The current form of Rishabh Pant has invited criticism from everyone. Although some of the cricket fraternity-like Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir has shown their support for Pant, not many are happy with them. With a three-match home Test series against South Africa is coming up, former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta said Rishabh Pant was not the best choice in the Test cricket where the veteran Wriddhiman Saha present in the squad.
“Obviously, red-ball and white-ball cricket should be differentiated. On the basis of Rishabh’s last innings, one could see a sense of confusion as to what is expected of him,” Deep Dasgupta told The Telegraph.
In the third T20 International against South Africa in Bangalore, Pant scored 19 runs and India put up a below-par 134/9 in 20 overs. India lost the game by nine wickets and the three-match series ended in a 1-1 draw. While the first T20I was abandoned in Dharamshala, India won the second match in Mohali. Pant got out for four runs in the second T20I and couldn’t contribute much from behind the stumps.
Read here: We Haven’t Played the Perfect Game Yet, Says Russell Domingo
“Post his recovery from injury, Wriddhi has delivered and done whatever one has asked of him. There is no shadow of doubt that he is the best wicketkeeper in the world at present. The only question was whether Wriddhi was a good enough batsman, especially when the team is looking to play five bowlers,” he said.
“Now, from the batting perspective, ever since Wriddhi’s comeback, he has scored runs every time he has gone out to bat. He has performed for India A consistently. Yes, one may ask if Wriddhi is a better batsman than Rishabh… Well, maybe not. Then the question arises that in this format, do you prefer a better keeper or a better batsman?” Deep Dasgupta added.
In the three-match series against the Windies in the Caribbean, Rishabh Pant scored 27, 24 and 7, with 11 catches with no stumpings to his name.
Deep Dasgupta choose Saha for the upcoming South Africa Tests, saying: “Going by what I saw of Rishabh in the West Indies as far as his keeping is concerned and what’s expected at home in the coming Tests, I would go with Wriddhi.”
