Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant has been released abruptly from the Indian ODI squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh after he sustained an injury, the BCCI announced on Sunday. Rishabh Pant was released by the team management after consulting with the BCCI Medical Team. No replacement for Rishabh Pant has been sought and KL Rahul will keep the wickets in the first ODI in his absence.
Though the reason behind Pant’s omission was not explained but it is thought that the keeper-batter was suffering from a niggle. Besides Pant, Axar Patel was also not available for selection. While Pant has been released for the entire ODI series, however, it is announced that Pant will be back before the start of the Test series against Bangladesh. The news of Pant’s omission was announced by the BCCI via their social media account.
“In consultation with the BCCI Medical Team, Rishabh Pant has been released from the ODI squad. He will join the team ahead of the Test series. No replacement has been sought,” the BCCI said in a statement.
🚨 UPDATE
In consultation with the BCCI Medical Team, Rishabh Pant has been released from the ODI squad. He will join the team ahead of the Test series. No replacement has been sought
Axar Patel was not available for selection for the first ODI.#TeamIndia | #BANvIND
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 4, 2022
Meanwhile, the move to playing KL Rahul at no.5 position and him doing the glove duties, didn’t go down well with many, who are now slamming the team management for their decision. Among many, popular commentator Harsha Bhogle took to his social media and expressed his thoughts behind the same.
Harsha explained how he is left confused with the selection process and the decision to back KL Rahul to keep wickets when players like Ishan Kishan are waiting for an opportunity. In another tweet, he also stated that if BCCI wants to back KL Rahul to keep wickets in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, then he must play every game. He wrote:
“So, Rishabh has been released and Samson is in India! And back to KL Rahul to keep wickets when keepers are waiting for an opportunity and Ishan Kishan is there! I am quite confused.”
He added: “If the long term plan is to look at Rahul to keep wickets at the World Cup, he must keep in virtually every game from now and, ideally, in the IPL”
Check out his Tweets:
If the long term plan is to look at Rahul to keep wickets at the World Cup, he must keep in virtually every game from now and, ideally, in the IPL https://t.co/umbXAcx5OJ
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 4, 2022
