India could have played Deepak Hooda in 1st T20I ahead of Dinesh Karthik, says Gautam Gambhir

Team India suffered a disappointing defeat against South Africa in the 1st T20I after an underwhelming performance by their bowlers. The Indian team opted for a strong batting lineup against the Proteas, but the former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir remained vociferous on the non-selection of Deepak Hooda in the team.

The Indian team opted for veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik ahead of Hooda in the middle order as the former had a phenomenal season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2022. Although Karthik faced just two balls in the opening match, Gambhir believes that Hooda should’ve been given a chance as he is a future prospect for the national team.

“Now that you have played Dinesh Karthik, you will play him. I still feel you could have played Deepak Hooda, the form he was in, and he is a youngster. But in the next matches, I don’t think any changes are required to be done unless the wicket is extremely dry,” the LSG mentor told Star Sports.

Former Indian cricketer and batting coach Sanjay Bangar also backed the Indian team to stick with the same team as he believed that the bowlers had an ‘off-day’ and can do better in the upcoming matches with better planning and execution. Bangar wants the Indian team management to back these players and give a longer run in the series rather than chopping and changing after a poor game.

“It was slightly an off-day for the bowlers, there will probably be some discussions about how they can use their bowlers better and whether they can improve their sequencing. The same team should play two or three matches, then only you will get an idea about which young players can be contenders for the World Cup,” Bangar said.

Gautam Gambhir backs Ravi Bishnoi as second leg spinner in the team

Gambhir reckoned that the side could include the likes of Ravi Bishnoi if the pitch assists the spinners. Bishnoi would be the 2nd wrist spinner in the team alongside the experienced leggie Yuzvendra Chahal. But the southpaw remarked that if the boundaries are short and the pitches are flat we could see the same side in the future games.

“In that case, you can probably sit out a seamer and play the leg-spinner in Bishnoi, and Hardik can be your third seamer. You will have two wrist-spinners as attacking options but if the ground is small and there is not much spin on the wicket, then you will probably see the same team,” the former Delhi captain added.

The fast bowlers had a poor outing in the first game as the death overs specialists Bhuvenswhar Kumar and Harshal Patel weren’t able to contain the Proteas under the score of 212. Chahal also leaked runs in his two overs and wasn’t given his full quota of four overs, much to the bewilderment of many fans.