Rishabh Pant Or Dinesh Karthik: Ravi Shastri Picks his Finisher For India Vs England Semi-Final

Dinesh Karthik is given more opportunities in the T-20 World Cup. India also picks DK as their finisher in Asia cup 2022. So India can’t shuffle between DK and pants on the eve of the World Cup. But Karthik didn’t perform well in the world cup.

Pant was given chance to play on the squad against Zimbabwe. But he scored only 3 of 5 balls. For India vs England semi-final, Ravi Shastri wants Pant to take up the wicket-keeper’s role over Karthik.

With the end of Super 12’s, India’s focus is totally on the semi-finals against England. India gives good performances against all the teams except South Africa. Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli are the leading run scorer in the tournament. But, coming into the crucial battle against England men, former India head coach Ravi Shastri wants the team to make one change in the batting order.

So far, veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has been preferred behind the stumps, primarily due to his ‘finishing’ abilities. Pant was given the nod in the match against Zimbabwe but he failed to make the opportunity count.

Yet, Shastri wants Pant to replace Karthik against England, especially because of the past performances against the opposition.

“Dinesh is a lovely team player. But when it comes to a game against England or New Zealand, just seeing their attack, I think you need a robust left-hander who can turn it on and is a match-winner and a left-hander,” Shastri told the broadcaster Star Sports after India’s victory over Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Highlighting Pant’s good knocks against England, Shastri said: “He has done well against England. He recently won a match on his win against England, a one-day game. I would go with Pant, not just because he played here, but because of the X-factor angle, he can bring to the semi-final.”