DUBAI: Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pants are capable of enough batting to select themselves in the same playing XI at the next T20 World Cup, believes former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
In his latest ICC review, Ponting made his five matchups for the watershed event and one of them was the heated debate over who should be in the playing XI? Should he be a potential Bowling Attack Pant destroyer or the “designated finisher” Karthik?
“The debate in Indian cricket circles has long raged over who should be the designated hitter-keeper at the side. While Karthik can boast of being an excellent finisher, Pant’s prodigious talent has seen him be supported by many,” Ponting wrote in his column.
India have fielded the two on the same side on some occasions and Ponting believes this should be the way forward for Rohit Sharma’s side.
Praising both, Ponting said, “I actually think the best Indian team has these two players. I don’t care if they’re both goalkeepers, but I think their batting prowess is good enough.”
Elaborating on their abilities, the Australian legend added: “Rishabh in the middle order and Dinesh as the finisher, they look extremely dangerous to me.”
Ultimately though, Ponting thought Pant had an advantage over Karthik and would likely have more chances.
“Look, I’m just going to favor Rishabh because I think he might have a bit more opportunities than Dinesh,” the Delhi Capitals manager said of Pant.
In the event of a confrontation between Shaheen Shah Afridi and Jasprit BumrahPonting reckons the Indian is one step ahead of the Pakistani.
“I’ll probably continue on the experience alone – I’ll go for Bumrah. He’s played quite a bit of cricket in Australia now, played more in Australia than Afridi and played more big tournaments as well as Afridi,” added Ponting.
In his latest ICC review, Ponting made his five matchups for the watershed event and one of them was the heated debate over who should be in the playing XI? Should he be a potential Bowling Attack Pant destroyer or the “designated finisher” Karthik?
“The debate in Indian cricket circles has long raged over who should be the designated hitter-keeper at the side. While Karthik can boast of being an excellent finisher, Pant’s prodigious talent has seen him be supported by many,” Ponting wrote in his column.
India have fielded the two on the same side on some occasions and Ponting believes this should be the way forward for Rohit Sharma’s side.
Praising both, Ponting said, “I actually think the best Indian team has these two players. I don’t care if they’re both goalkeepers, but I think their batting prowess is good enough.”
Elaborating on their abilities, the Australian legend added: “Rishabh in the middle order and Dinesh as the finisher, they look extremely dangerous to me.”
Ultimately though, Ponting thought Pant had an advantage over Karthik and would likely have more chances.
“Look, I’m just going to favor Rishabh because I think he might have a bit more opportunities than Dinesh,” the Delhi Capitals manager said of Pant.
In the event of a confrontation between Shaheen Shah Afridi and Jasprit BumrahPonting reckons the Indian is one step ahead of the Pakistani.
“I’ll probably continue on the experience alone – I’ll go for Bumrah. He’s played quite a bit of cricket in Australia now, played more in Australia than Afridi and played more big tournaments as well as Afridi,” added Ponting.
