India-Australia series: Pant's gain, Karthik's loss?

Pant finds a place in all the three squads named by the selectors in Mumbai today

Rishabh-Pant-Dinesh-karthik (File) Rishabh Pant (left) and Dinesh Karthik

Rishabh Pant pipped fellow wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik to the post quite literally when the senior national selectors chose him as second wicketkeeper and batsman in the squad for the forthcoming ODI series against Australia at home. The selectors have been looking at firming up the middle-order and finalising the finisher slot ahead of the World Cup to be held in June-July this year in England. Pant was not picked for the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand but returned for the T20 internationals against the hosts. He finds a place in all the three squads named by the selectors in Mumbai today.

Pant's 'growth' as a batsman and a wicketkeeper from the time he made his India debut has been remarkable. By the time the Test series against Australia ended, Pant's performance both with the gloves and bat was appreciated by all, with the likes of Syed Kirmani and Kiran More acknowledging that he was a “quick learner”.

Pant has played only three ODIs so far, making his debut in the ODI series against West Indies in 2018 at home. There's not much of a record to go by in this format but his potential and reputation of an explosive batsman has seen the selectors trying him out ahead of the World Cup. Not that Karthik is totally out of the picture—the seasoned campaigner has been steady with his fine performances.

“We have included him [Pant] considering many factors. We are going to discuss with the team management. Virat was also part of the meeting, and we will figure out the best possible batting position because being a left-hander, there is also that advantage of a left-hand-right-hand combination,”said chief selector M.S.K. Prasad. “Prior to this, we had a series in New Zealand and Australia, where Karthik was chosen, because Rishabh played four Test matches. So, we wanted him to get a good break, so he had a 20 day-break, and he played a couple of one-day matches against England Lions, in which he did extremely well. Then, we sent him to the T20 matches (in New Zealand). So, we want to give him a few ODIs too before taking a final call.”

The Delhi boy is an explosive batsman and with the seasoned M.S. Dhoni playing more of an anchor role and all-rounder Hardik Pandya in a league of his own in the short format, southpaw Pant's presence could only add more “X-factor” to the middle-order.

It is also clear now that Ravindra Jadeja is not in the mix for the World Cup. With the leg-spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal being certainties, and aided by Kedar Jadhav's off-spin, somewhere Jadeja, the left-arm spinner and batsman and a fine fielder, did not fit in, in the larger scheme of things.

Another relatively inexperienced name that finds its way into the 'virtual' squad for the World Cup, is all-rounder Vijay Shankar who impressed the selectors with his performance in the T20Is in New Zealand batting at number three. He, it appears, will be a back-up for Ambati Rayudu as well as Pandya, giving the crucial balance to the team with his useful right-arm medium pace bowling. Prasad admitted that his impactful performances has brought another dimension to the selectors' plans. “Vijay Shankar’s performance in the recent series really changed a bit of the dynamics, and he brings in that double impact to the side, which is good enough. That’s why we have included him and we will see how he performs in the next few matches.”

Opener K.L. Rahul, meanwhile, gets a chance to resurrect his white ball career, coming into the team after a confident-boosting performance for India A against the England Lions. It remains to be seen if the team management will use him at number three or as a back-up opener. There might even be a toss up for number three between Shankar and Rahul.

It is clear that while the core of the team is established, the few spots that were up for grabs in the top and middle-order might seem to be taken now. But, with the IPL set to kick off in March and the squad for the World Cup to be selected by April end, no one can take their place in the World Cup squad for granted.