Rishabh Pant won’t be included in India’s starting lineup for their three-match ODI series against South Africa, according to former national selector Saba Karim. On November 30, the series’ 50-over leg got underway.
Karim emphasised that an injury to any of the starting players would be the only scenario in which Pant could return to the ODI lineup. The former wicketkeeper added that the management will probably decide to replace the left-handed batter with an all-rounder.
“I would really like to see him in the starting lineup, but given how the lineup is currently being built, I don’t see any room for Rishabh Pant. When you elect to include Tilak Varma in the starting lineup, KL Rahul steps in as a wicketkeeper-batter because Shubman Gill is out of the lineup. Karim said, “Then you have the all-rounders coming through,” according to ESPNcricinfo.
Tilak Varma was likewise deemed by Karim to be the best contender for the fourth position. He also discussed the left-handed batter’s potential in white-ball cricket and how, if he plays well in the series, he may cement his place in the team.
With Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and number three Virat Kohli in your top order, Tilak Varma is the ideal option to replace Shreyas Iyer. To date, Tilak Varma has demonstrated great promise in white-ball cricket. Even in one-day cricket, this is a wonderful chance for him to perform well. Tilak Varma is at number four, in my opinion,” he continued.
Pant was left out of the starting lineup for the current first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, proving that Karim’s prediction was accurate.
The Proteas won the toss and chose to field first, putting India in to bat.
Tilak was replaced in the setup by Ruturaj Gaikwad. The first ODI will feature three pacers: Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana. The Men in Blue recently lost the Test series 0–2.
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