Should Pant be in the team in place of Samson? (PC-PTI)
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith believes that a player of Rishabh Pant’s caliber should get a direct place in any T20 team. He finds it surprising that Pant was not selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pant, who is recovering from a side strain, is not a part of India’s T20 team since the 2024 World Cup in Barbados. Sanju Samson is the main wicketkeeper-batsman in India’s World Cup team while Ishan Kishan has been kept in reserve. Speaking to PTI during the second T20 match between India and New Zealand, former wicketkeeper and current commentator Smith expressed surprise at Pant’s exclusion and said that he would have chosen Pant instead of Samson.
Ian Smith praised Pant
Ian Smith, one of the veteran commentators, said that he would have kept Pant in the team under any circumstances. He said, ‘I will keep Rishabh Pant in my team any day. I am surprised that Pant is not in it. He is a very talented player. He can win the match on his own. This is the most important thing in T20 players, they should be match winners. And he is a match winner. The team management has selected Samson and Smith believes that leaving out Shubman Gill was the right decision to give him a place in the top order. He said, ‘I think these teams are based on balance. There is not room in your team for too many players who have only one skill, either only batting or only bowling.
India will show wonders in T20 World Cup
Ian Smith believes that India can become the first team to win two consecutive World Cup titles. He said, ‘India has a good chance to defend the title because they are playing on home ground and this will definitely be an advantage. He knows the situation very well. But I think this time the competition is quite equal. There are about five teams that can win it. This is T20 cricket.