Legendary Indian player Sunil Gavaskar requested for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant‘s inclusion in India’s final group stage game against Zimbabwe in the currently ongoing T20 World Cup on Sunday, November 6, at the MCG.
Despite winning 3 out of 4 matches in Group two of the Super 12 stage, the Men in Blue are yet to secure qualification for the semi-final phase. A victory against Zimbabwe might secure a meeting with England in the 2nd semi-final on November 10, Thursday in Adelaide.
Pant, who has secured 961 runs in 62 T20Is at a strike rate of 127.62, has been heating the bench so far in the competition with the team management preferring veteran Dinesh Karthik over the youngster.
Gavaskar wants Pant to the aperture at No.5 in the batting order and tests his capabilities ahead of India’s possible semi-final clash. Speaking on giving Pant the possibility to perform against Zimbabwe, Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Today:
“In this game, you cannot take anything for granted that India will be able to beat Zimbabwe. This again is an opportunity to try somebody like Rishabh Pant. Give him an opportunity and let him bathe up the order. Let him bat at No.5. ”
Gavaskar added:
“Don’t worry about who is coming in at 6 and 7. Let him show what he is capable of and let him get some game time. Again if you want to pick him in the semis, you pick him in the semis.”
“Maybe give Yuzvendra Chahal a go and watch what he does” – Sunil Gavaskar
Cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal is one more key performer missing from the action with the team playing off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has picked up 3 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 35.33 in the T20 World Cup so far.
Chahal is the 2nd-most wicket-taker (85) for India in T20Is back Bhuvneshwar Kumar (88). The right-arm wrist spinner has picked up three wickets against Zimbabwe at 29.67 and
While explaining the advantages of including Chahal in India’s playing XI against the African nation, Gavaskar said:
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What they should be observing to do against Zimbabwe is they can research with that one spinner. Maybe give Chahal a go and watch what he does then. If he bowls well and gets his line correct if his rhythm is right, who knows? Because India should beat Zimbabwe. Conventionally, non-subcontinental teams have battled against quality wrist spin bowlers. So give Chahal a chance.
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