Mumbai: Former pacer Karsan Ghavri feels that a “good and balanced” Indian team has been picked for the ICC World Cup, but in the same vein opined that Rishabh Pant should also have made it to the squad.
Playing the Devil’s Advocate, the 68-year-old Ghavri said that might have lost out his spot as the second wicket-keeper in the squad to Dinesh Karthik due to the latter’s superior ‘keeping abilities’.
“According to me it’s a very good and well-balanced team, but I think Rishabh Pant should have found a place. The selectors, and a lot of people, think in his wicket-keeping abilities he is no match to Dinesh Karthik. Wicket-keeping is (also) important,” Ghavri told PTI on Tuesday.
“But he could have been a great advantage because Rishabh Pant, according to me, is a much better batsman. He is a match-winner and he can win you a match on his own. But whatever the selectors and the captain have thought, I think they have picked the best team,” added the former left-arm pacer.
The second wicketkeeper’s spot, with MS Dhoni holding his spot as the team’s No. 1 stumper, was a bone of contention in the selection of the squad for the marquee event starting in England and Wales on May 30.
The 33-year-old Karthik’s experience of 91 ODIs gave him the edge over the 21-year-old Pant, according to the five -member selection panel headed by M S K Prasad.
Former chairman of selectors Chandu Borde said now there are three-four stumpers in the squad that include MS Dhoni, Karthik, KL Rahul and Kedar Jadhav.
Borde advised the disappointed Pant not to give up, saying he has a bright future.
“He should not give up as he has a bright future. I am sure he will be in the team soon, sooner than what we expect,’’ said Borde. (PTI)
