“Why Leave a Match-Winner Out?” – Rishabh Pant’s Exclusion Questioned by Cricketing Legend

Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant has been left out of the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Pant, who was part of India’s victorious 2024 T20 World Cup team, has now fallen behind in the team management’s selection priorities, with preference given to players like Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, and Dhruv Jurel. Pant last featured in a T20 match in July 2024. The selectors chose Samson and Kishan as the two wicketkeeper-batsmen to defend India’s title.

Despite Pant’s long absence from the T20 side, former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith expressed disagreement with the decision. Speaking to PTI, Smith said, “I would select Rishabh Pant in my team any day. I am surprised he is not here. He is an incredibly talented player and can win matches. That is what T20 cricket requires—a match-winner, and Pant is exactly that.”

While Smith believes Pant’s exclusion is unfortunate, he also supported some of the team’s other choices. He agreed that bringing back Sanju Samson as an opener and dropping Shubman Gill was the right move. Smith explained that team selection is about balance. “There isn’t room in a squad for too many players who do only one thing—batting or bowling. The key is finding the right combination,” he said.

Smith added that players like Samson and Tim Seifert are valued primarily for their batting, which provides balance to the team, while their wicketkeeping is secondary. Traditionally, wicketkeepers batted lower down the order, but now, to prove their value, they often need to bat in the top four. Their main strength lies in batting, with wicketkeeping as an additional asset.

Pant’s exclusion has sparked debate among cricket enthusiasts and experts alike, highlighting the difficult decisions selectors face when balancing talent, team composition, and strategy for major tournaments.