Rishabh Pant vs Dinesh Karthik Debate: There are talks going around in the cricket fraternity as to who is the better keeper-batter option between Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik, team India should go for in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Even in the ongoing India vs Australia T20 series, the debate has intensified. Team India opted for Dinesh Karthik in their playing XI for the first T20 against Australia. Earlier, Pant was preferred over veteran Karthik in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2022 but his consistent dismal form led to Karthik's selection in Ind vs Aus T20Is.
Former Australian legend, Adam Gilchrist spoke to ICC over 'Karthik vs Pant' debate and said, "The dare of Rishabh Pant and the courage for him, the way in which he takes on bowling attacks. I think he’s got to be a must in that Indian line-up. They can play together, but I think Rishabh Pant has definitely got to be in there”.
In the last few months, Karthik has been asked to play the role of a finisher in the Indian team. On the contrary, Pant is a middle-order batter who hasn't made a mark in the T20Is the way he did in red-ball cricket.
“It’ll be interesting to see if they can both play in the same team. I think they can. What they bring to a team… the versatility of Dinesh Karthik, he can play at the top of the order, he can, as he has done more so later in his career, be in the middle and late overs to finish. He has a really nice touch game,” the former wicket-keeper batter said.
Karthik has donned the India cap in 51 T20Is so far and has scored 598 runs at an average of 27.18. Meanwhile, Pant has made 934 runs in 58 matches at an average of 23.95. India will be locking horns against the Kangaroos in the second T20 which will take place on Friday in Nagpur. Australia are 1-0 up in the series as they have defeated India in the first T20.