Pant said of Karthik’s potential threat to his spot in the T20I line-up for the Asia Cup, “We don’t think along those lines.” As individuals, we always want to give our all to the team. The rest is up to the coach and captain, and how the team can benefit from that.”
Before the T20 World Cup in Australia in October, the Rohit Sharma-led team will have a chance to put their skills to the test in the upcoming Asia Cup tournament, which begins on August 27 in the UAE. India have selected their 15-man squad, with their playing XI largely set for the tournament, but veterans and experts have advised picking one of Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik to get the right combination. And in response to these claims and subsequent competition in the XI, the youngster has provided a straightforward response.
India have played Karthik and Pant in the same line-up through most of the T20I games since June. They have featured together in the home series against South Africa and in the away series in West Indies, with the youngster featuring as the wicketkeeper while the veteran as a finisher.
However, experts and veterans feel that India must pick one between the two in a bid to add more balance to the squad by fitting in Hardik Pandya and returning Virat Kohli to the XI.
Pant said of Karthik’s potential threat to his spot in the T20I line-up for the Asia Cup, “We don’t think along those lines.” As individuals, we always want to give our all to the team. The rest is up to the coach and captain, and how the team can benefit from that.”
Pant and Karthik have both been left out of the Zimbabwe tour, which begins on August 18. They will both play in the Asia Cup, where India will face arch-rival Pakistan in their opening match on August 28 at the Dubai International Stadium.