Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said on Friday he believes that Rishabh Pant should be a certainty in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, opening up on the intense race for the wicketkeeping slots in the senior national team. Ganguly said he is fond of both Pant and Sanju Samson, adding that both the wicketkeeper can be picked in the 15-man squad, which is set to be announced before the end of April.
Sourav Ganguly, speaking to the press on the eve of Delhi’s IPL 2024 match against Mumbai, highlighted Rishabh Pant’s incredible return to form on his comeback to the IPL after a long injury layoff due to road accident in December 2022. The Director of Cricket of the Delhi side said the selectors need to take a call on whether they can take Sanju Samson as the second wicketkeeper option.
“I love Sanju, I love Rishabh. Rishabh will go (to the T20 World Cup). Sanju might also go. I am not saying Sanju should not go. He is as good a player as anybody. He bats, he has captained Rajasthan superbly. Both can go, if the selectors feel, but Rishabh should go,” Sourav Ganguly said.
Rishabh Pant has been in beyond-believable form after making an earlier-than-expected recovery from multiple injuries he suffered in a road accident. Pant was unable to walk without crutches a year ago, but he has been at his best with the bat and the gloves, leading DC from the front. Pant is in the top 5 in the Orange Cap list with 342 runs in 9 matches so far for the Capitals. Pant’s knock of 88 from 43 balls for Delhi against Gujarat only solidified his chances of traveling to the USA and the West Indies.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson has been terrific as well, leading Rajasthan to the top of the IPL 2024 points table. The Kerala wicketkeeper has scored 314 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate of over 150.
However, a PTI report claimed that KL Rahul, who is slowly finding form at the top for LSG in IPL 2024, is the frontrunner for the second wicketkeeper’s slot and that Samson might have to wait more for his chance to play in the World Cup.
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AXAR FOR T20 WORLD CUP?
Meanwhile, Ganguly also backed Axar Patel to get a spot in the World Cup, saying he can give the team a handy option with the bat lower down the order. Axar hit a match-winning 66 for DC against GT earlier in the week, flaunting his batting skills just ahead of the selection day.
“Axar and Rishabh are certainties for me at T20 World Cup. The way things are going in T20, Rohit will want someone to come at No. 8 and bat, give those 15-20 runs or someone to go in middle and get those runs,” Ganguly said.
The senior national team selectors, including chairman Ajit Agarkar, Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid are expected to meet to pick the squad for the T20 World Cup over the weekend. India will begin their World Cup campaign from June 3.
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