Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson will be in a fierce competition for the wicket-keeper position in India’s T20 World Cup XI.
Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant both made the team for the T20 World Cup 2024, thanks to their outstanding achievements in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, according to the announcement made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Only one of them will be included in the playing XI for the one slot behind the stumps, even if both are part of the global event’s 15-man roster. Gautam Gambhir, the current coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders, had a strong opinion when asked what he preferred.
He said to news sources in a talk that the left-hander is crucial in the middle order to support players like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli. “While Pant has batted in the middle order in IPL, Sanju has batted in the top order,” he said.
“Pant being a left-hander batter can bring variety to the team’s middle order,” he stated.
Gambhir believes that Pant is a better fit for the position than Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson, even though Samson can also bat at No. 4 or No. 5.
“Looking at Team India’s combination, we need the wicketkeeper in that position and not in the top order,” he stated.
Samson has been a more reliable batsman for Rajasthan this IPL, Gambhir didn’t hold back in acknowledging that fact. He would be chosen over Pant if this factor is given more weight.
“But again, if they see that Sanju can score more runs at number six or seven, they could go with him as well,” stated the mentor from KKR.
He said, “I think we should support that player, whoever plays.”
Samson has outperformed Pant as a hitter in the league campaign. With 486 runs in his career, Samson