'India need to figure out whether Rishabh Pant plays or not' - Wasim Jaffer wants Rishabh Pant out of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 team

Wasim Jaffer, Rishabh Pant (Image Source: Twitter)

Rishabh Pant is a big name in India, and one has to agree that he has reached this place within a short span of time. But that doesn’t get him rid of the critics, and the southpaw has had his share in recent times. Speaking of his form, fans will have no guts to question his place in the test side and if the formats change, fans will thrash him to the core. 

To add to the statement, the southpaw has been poor in the T20I format and one can never figure out why. While many predicted that he is not made for T20Is, a few said that he just needs to change his batting position. Wasim Jaffer, the former India cricketer was happy to opine on the same to ESPNCricinfo. 

The former India cricketer expressed his desire to see Dinesh Karthik in the playing XI alongside Axar Patel. Wasim Jaffer further backed his statement by saying that the Indian team management should trust the all-rounder more and give him chances. The former India cricketer further opined that Rishabh Pant should rather open the innings for the team in the T20I format. 

“I think Axar Patel has done really well in recent times, so I don't know why India has not trusted him, because he has won matches with his batting. India needs to figure out whether Rishabh Pant plays or not. The Indian think tank has been thinking a lot about putting Rishabh Pant in. He has been brilliant and we have talked about it many times. In Test cricket and in the ODIs, he has played series-winning, game-changing knocks, but that has not happened in T20 internationals or even in T20s, “ Jaffer said. 

Leaving out Rishabh Pant in the World Cup will be the best thing: Wasim Jaffer

The 44-year-old further commented that the Indian team needs to figure out their best playing XI. He further suggested leaving out Rishabh Pant from the 20-20 World Cup 2022 playing XI and bringing in Dinesh Karthik. 

“So India needs to figure out if they want to stick with Rishabh Pant in the top six or if they want to play Dinesh Karthik, who has done really well since the Indian Premier League. For me personally, Rishabh Pant does not fit in number 4 or 5. His best place is to open batting, which I don't think will happen. I feel leaving out Rishabh Pant in the World Cup will be the best thing,” he concluded.