World Cup 2019: Picking Rishabh Pant ahead of Dinesh Karthik doesn’t send the right signals, says Murali Kartik

After Vijay Shankar failed to deliver with the bat in hand in the match against Afghanistan and the Windies, he had to finally face the axe. The 28-year-old Indian all-rounder was left out of the playing eleven in the match versus England at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. The 21-year-old Rishabh Pant had the privilege of making his maiden appearance in the mega event.

Even as many applauded the selection, it made a few people unhappy as well, one of them was Murali Kartik, the former Indian cricketer. He is of the opinion that Dinesh Karthik, who was initially selected as a backup wicketkeeper of MS Dhoni, should’ve found a place in the lineup.

“Is it just the former cricketers trying to blow the winds of change for him. That’s what it is because for me I would’ve picked Dinesh Karthik ahead of him,” a rather agitated Kartik was quoted as saying in a chat with ESPNcricinfo where Daniel Vettori, the former New Zealand cricketer, was also present.

Personally, I’m surprised and it doesn’t send a great signal

Kartik is a surprised lot as in the pre-match press conference, Kohli backed Shankar to do well in the upcoming games. He also remarked how Ambati Rayudu didn’t make the squad despite getting nominated for the number four slot. Kartik didn’t mince any words in saying that it doesn’t send the right signals and there may be something else in selections than only cricketing merit.

“And the funniest thing is that one day ago, Virat Kohli says that one should give all the support to Vijay Shankar and it won’t be too long before he gets runs. And it’s the same with Ambati Rayudu as well. He’s the nominated number four and he gets dropped as well,” Kartik mentioned.

“Personally I’m surprised and it doesn’t send a great signal. I understand Pant is a flashy player, but he hasn’t done anything of repute in One Day cricket. And if these are the kind of signals cricketers are going to get, then people are going to think that there are more things that play around rather than just cricketing merit alone, “he added.