Dinesh Karthik vs Rishabh Pant: Sunil Gavaskar's Big Prediction For India XI Ahead Of IND v PAK T20 WC Match

Ex-India skipper Sunil Gavaskar feels both Pant and Karthik can play together if Hardik Pandya is included in the Indian team as a fifth bowler.

India will start its T20 World Cup 2022 campaign with a match against Pakistan on October 23.

Source : AFP

New Delhi: Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik are the two wicket-keeping options Indian cricket team have for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. For the past few games, the Indian management has preferred in-form Karthik over Pant for the 'finisher's role'. India will start its T20 World Cup 2022 campaign with a match against Pakistan on October 23 and most likely only one among Pant or Karthik will be fielded in the match. Several experts and fans have backed Karthik's inclusion in India XI against Pakistan, considering his current form, while some are of the opinion that Pant should be fielded in India XI as he is the only left-handed batter in top five.

Meanwhile, ex-India skipper Sunil Gavaskar feels both Pant and Karthik can play together if Hardik Pandya is included in the Indian team as a fifth bowler.

“It's just that maybe, if they decide to go with six bowlers, with Hardik Pandya being the sixth bowler, then he (Pant) may not be able to find a place,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports show 'Cricket Live'.

"But if they decide to go with Hardik Pandya as the fifth bowler, then Rishabh Pant has an opportunity to bat at number six and Karthik maybe at number seven, followed by the four bowlers. So, that could well happen. We just have to wait and see.

"They would certainly want a left-hander in the middle, but looking at the top four, who are in such good form, you sometimes say to yourself, 'How many overs is Rishabh Pant going to get in? Is he going to get three or four overs? And for three or four overs, is Karthik or Rishabh better? So, these are all the situations they will look at and they'll take a call on this," Gavaskar explained.