Reetinder Sodhi, a former Indian cricketer, analyzed India’s performance at the ICC event and singled out Rishabh Pant for his subpar performance in the game’s shortest format, arguing that the left-hander should be replaced in the starting XI by Sanju Samson.
With Suryakumar Yadav batting like a dream and Virat Kohli reclaiming his best form, the Rohit Sharma-led Team India entered the T20 World Cup’s Super 12 round as one of the favorites to win the competition.
India won Group 2 in the T20 World Cup after defeating archrival Pakistan in the tournament’s opening match by outclassing nations like the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.
The Rohit-led Team India fell short of expectations in the knockout round of the T20 World Cup despite their desire to break their ICC title drought.
India’s cricket team progress
Team India, led by Virat Kohli, was eliminated from the ICC World T20 after an embarrassing loss to eventual champions England in the second semi-final. India scored a disappointing 168 runs but could not claim even one England wicket as Jos Buttler and Alex Hales experimented with their bowling.
Reetinder Sodhi, a former Indian cricketer, highlighted Rishabh Pant’s subpar run in the game’s shortest format when discussing India’s performance at the ICC event. As a wicketkeeper-batter who struggled to make consistent appearances for the Men In Blue, Pant had a miserable campaign there. At the Adelaide Oval, Pant struck six runs off the first four deliveries of India’s match against England.
Sodhi supported Sanju Samson to replace Pant in the Indian white-ball squad in an interview with India News prior to the One Day International (ODI) series opener against New Zealand. For Team India, he is turning into a burden.
“Bring Sanju Samson in if the situation is this. At the end of the day, you have to take the risk because you cannot afford to lose and be eliminated from World Cup or ICC competitions. Problems occur when you extend opportunities excessively. The moment has arrived to give freshmen options,” said Sodhi.
“Only time will tell how many chances he receives and for how long. He needs to tighten his shoes badly because time is passing. Everything is constrained. You can only rely on one player so much.
You must point out the departure door to him if he is not performing, he continued. While power hitter Samson has only been in 26 international white-ball games for the former world champions, Pant has played in 27 ODIs and 66 T20Is for India.