The inclusion of the young Indian wicket-keeper batsman, Rishabh Pant in place of Dinesh Karthik in India’s ODI squad for Australia series, which has touted to be India’s last before the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, has pretty much indicated the selectors’ plans for picking the team for the upcoming ICC event.

Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad, following Pant’s inclusion, said that the team management wants to give the young wicketkeeper-batsman a few games before the squad for the World Cup is picked.

However, legendary Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, following Friday’s team selection, said that he will pick Karthik over Pant for the World Cup squad. The batting legend said that he would select Karthik ahead of KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane as the Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman has opened the innings for India in Test cricket as well. Gavaskar also named what could be his team for the World Cup and Pant did not find a place in the same.

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As per the reports of India Today, Gavaskar said, “I have 13 names in my mind who will surely board the flight to England and they are Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav.”

He further added, “I think Vijay Shankar can be the 14th player. Seeing the swinging conditions in England, India can play two fast bowling all-rounders. But I am not too very sure of the 15th player. Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj have not been that impressive. Umesh Yadav can be an option and I think selectors must keep an eye on these three bowlers.”

The legendary Indian opener then backed Karthik’s credentials, saying he can open the innings in the ODIs as he had done in Tests.

Gavaskar concluded, “There should be flexibility in the team. Dinesh Karthik has opened in Test matches in the past so he can do it in ODIs too.”