Fans bat for Dinesh Karthik's return after Rishabh Pant's poor show in Australia series
Pant didn't do much in either roles in the two matches against Australia.
The recently concluded ODI series against Australia is a big wake-up call for Team India ahead of the World Cup. While the series was seen as the one to try out experiments, the 2-3 loss especially after going two nil up is surely going to dent the team’s confidence. On Wednesday, India lost the fifth and final ODI by 35 runs to concede the series. It was yet another dismal performance from a team which has been tipped as the favourites to win the upcoming World Cup.
India made heavy weather of a modest 273-run chase in Delhi. Shikhar Dhawan, who scored 143 in the previous ODI, failed again and managed to score just 12 before the rest of his teammates threw away their starts. At one stage, India were looking well set to be bowled under 200 after being reduced to 132 for 6. But a 91-run stand between Kedar Jadhav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar revived the team’s hopes before both the batsmen departed on consecutive deliveries. India were eventually all out for 237.
Unsurprisingly, the defeat has attracted criticism and Rishabh Pant is one of the players who finds himself in the line of fire. The wicketkeeper-batsman was recalled in the series and a good performance would have all but sealed his World Cup spot. However, the 21-year old failed miserably and his World Cup hopes are now hanging by a fine thread.
After warming the bench in the first three games, Pant was finally handed an opportunity in the fourth ODI after MS Dhoni was rested. He made a mark with his bat, scoring 36 off 24 but soon found himself in the news for all the wrong reasons after his miserable display behind the stumps. His two missed stumpings – when Ashton Turner was on 38 and 41 – eventually cost India the fourth ODI. The youngster then failed to impress with the bat in the fifth ODI. Promoted at number four, he managed to score just 16.
Fans want Karthik back
With Pant failing to impress, fans on Twitter have now expressed their desire of seeing Dinesh Karthik returning to the team. Karthik was sensationally dropped for the series despite his impressive performances over the last one year. With experience on his side, the fans think he is a better option at the moment than Pant.
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