Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith finds it puzzling that Rishabh Pant hasn’t been selected for the forthcoming T20 World Cup, which will begin in less than three weeks, since a player of the keeper-batter’s caliber walks into any T20 team.
Following the 2024 World Cup in Barbados, Pant, who is presently recuperating from a side strain, was not included in India’s T20 squad. Ishan Kishan is in reserve for India’s World Cup team, with Sanju Samson serving as the primary wicket-keeper batter.
The former New Zealand wicketkeeper who is now a broadcaster said he was surprised that Pant was left out and that he would choose him above Samson.
“I’d pick Rishabh Pant in my team any day of the week. I’m surprised that Rishabh Pant is not here. He is a wonderfully gifted player. He can win a match. That’s what you’ve got to have with T20 players. They’ve got to be match winners. He’s a match winner,” PTI quoted the 68-year-old as saying on the sidelines of the second T20I between India and New Zealand in Raipur.
Smith believes that leaving out Shubman Gill to make room for Samson at the top of the order was the appropriate decision because he is the team management’s favored choice.
“I think these sides are all about balance. You haven’t got room in your side for too many players who just have one discipline. In other words, they either bat or they just bowl. It’s all about finding the mix. Invariably, you’ll find now that wicketkeepers used to be batting at seven. Now they have to bat probably in the top four to be worth their soap. Their main strength will be their batting.”
“Their secondary strength will be their wicket-keeping. The sides that have got one of those players who can do equally well with both. New Zealand will end up using Tim Seifert out of the BBL. He’s equally good as a keeper, as a batter. It’s hard to split his skills. Those kinds of players are gold to you because they help the balance of the side,” reckoned Smith, who is one of the best broadcasters in the game.
Smith believes India may become the first side to win consecutive World Cup titles, despite the uncertain nature of the T20 format.
“India have got a good chance to defend because they’re playing at home of course, so that gives them an advantage. They know the conditions very well. But I think it’s a very even competition this time around. I think anyone of about five teams could win it. That’s the nature of T20 cricket.
“Australia are always going to be threatening, aren’t they? India of course. England have got a point to prove as well as Brendon McCullum. They need to get their white ball act together. It has not been good. And then you throw in wild cards. You never write off South Africa. Now that they’ve won one trophy (WTC). And I wouldn’t write off New Zealand either, to be fair. I think when they’re at full strength, they’re a pretty powerful unit. And they seem to play well in India,” added Smith.
