Seems like India have decided that Rishabh Pant is not in their first-choice playing eleven with the exclusion of the left-hander from the third T20I vs Australia, on Sunday, in Hyderabad.
Pant, who was dropped from the first T20I in Mohali, was brought back in the XI for the second T20I, in Nagpur. Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, had said that because it was a curtailed 8-over per side match in Nagpur, and that they needed one less bowler, Pant came into the side replacing pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to extend the batting. Pant didn’t get to bat as Karthik was promoted over him; DK proved his worth and place in the XI by smashing a 6 and 4 to seal the chase.
For the series-deciding T20I in Hyderabad, India got back Bhuvneshwar and benched the 24-year-old Delhi Capitals skipper again.
Today’s eleven, many believe, is India’s best XI and the same side is likely to take the field at the T20 World Cup. This, however, left India short of a proper left-handed batsman, meaning that Axar Patel is likely to bat in the middle-order above Dinesh Karthik similar to the first T20I. India are banking on Axar’s improved batting performances this year, when he’s been used as a finisher by Delhi Capitals and had played a couple of handy knocks for India as well.
Netizens made their opinion public about Rishabh Pant’s axing from the XI; most asserted that Pant hasn’t done enough in the shortest format for India to have a fixed place. Some opined that Pant should be in India’s eleven for the T20 WC next month.
Here are some of the reactions:
One may or may not agree with the choice of personnel, but one thing that has been of note with this management is backing of the players to the hilt.
Shreyas, Pant, Avesh, Bhuvi & Chahal. All have been backed. Shreyas, Avesh & Pant can’t complain about being dropped.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) September 25, 2022
There is still time Rishabh you should play for Australia 🇦🇺 in this upcoming WC!!!
— ZAYN (@Pant__peak) September 25, 2022
Pant is no longer in India’s full strength XI.
Rahul, Rohit, Kohli, SKY, Hardik, Axar, DK with Axar as the floater is what they see their best top 7 as.
The promotion in Mohali for Axar shows they are willing to be flexible, which is good. #INDvAUS
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) September 25, 2022
Pant seriously opt out of t20is till IPL, chokhit and chokvid is ruining your confidence, you better spend time with DC staff 👍🏻
— Green stan account (@RP17xVK18) September 25, 2022
So it is Dinesh Karthik over Rishabh Pant in India’s #T20WorldCup plans. Seems more like it with every passing game. #INDvAUS
— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) September 25, 2022
So why not Australia Sending Steve Smith to open if he was Indian he would be opening and batting at easier position ? He wouldn’t have batted at 6 because ego problem ? In T20 player like Rishabh Pant isn’t playing is ridiculous #INDvAUS
— Ankit Pandey (@PandeyAnkit21) September 25, 2022
So they toy with Rishabh Pant again! Is he a puppet to be shuffled about up and down/in and out? Does this cruelty have no end? The bcci ought to be taken down..
— Rishabh Pant: The Amazing Spiderman⚡ (@RP17meradost) September 25, 2022
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No matter what you all say, Rishabh Pant will still play a key role in WC T20, you can’t bench players like him for too long
HE WILL BE BACK! pic.twitter.com/3I5cGYHr7m
— Akshay (@Neylegacy) September 25, 2022
Harshal Patel Ko bahar karna chahiye Rishabh pant Ko nhi
— Lavkush Kumar (@Lavkush89791202) September 25, 2022
Rohit Sharma won the toss in Hyderabad and, unsurprisingly, decided to bowl first. Aaron Finch, the Australian captain, also announced one change: Josh Inglis comes back in for Sean Abbott.
Teams:
Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Matthew Wade(w), Daniel Sams, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik(w), Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
