‘If Rishabh Pant is fit on even one leg…’: Sunil Gavaskar backs recovering keeper to play at T20 World Cup

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has backed Rishabh Pant, who is on the road to make a comeback from a serious accident, to keep wickets for the Indian cricket team at the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Pant has not played any cricket since he was involved in a horrific car crash where his automobile hit a divider and caught fire near Uttarakhand in December 2022.

Pant is slated to make a comeback to the sport at the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals. But despite questions over his form, Gavaskar backed him to play for India.

Responding to a question about KL Rahul playing in the Indian team as a keeper for the T20 World Cup, Gavaskar said: “I see him (KL Rahul) as a wicketkeeper as well but I will say one thing before that: if Rishabh Pant is fit on even one leg, he should come in the team because he is a game-changer in every format. If I am the selector, I will put his name first.

“However, if Rishabh Pant is unavailable and KL Rahul keeps wickets, it will be good because the balance will also get created. Then you have the option to play him as an opener or use him in the middle order as a finisher at No. 5 or No. 6,” Gavaskar said in a conversation on a Star Sports special ahead of India’s T20I series against Afghanistan.

The series against Afghanistan is the last T20 series that India will play ahead of the T20 World Cup, meaning that a lot of emphasis for team selection will be on the IPL.

Gavaskar said that even if skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have decent performances in a few matches, they should be picked for the World Cup.

“I feel the IPL form will be crucial because that will be the current form. The Afghanistan series is in January. The World Cup is in June. So whoever has good form in March, April and May should be given consideration first, that performance should be given consideration. Along with that, I will also say that even if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have an ordinary IPL, but they score runs there, you cannot score runs in every match, but suppose they make good contributions in five out of 14 matches, you will have to take advantage of their experience, and you can probably pick them in the team,” Gavaskar said.

He then gave an “out-of-the-box” suggestion with regards to Kohli and Rohit.

“I will also say that, it’s an out-of-the-box suggestion, you can take them (Kohli and Rohit) along with the team as well, if you cannot pick them in the 15, because of their experience. If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the dugout, imagine what will be the team’s confidence,” Gavaskar added.

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