Many Indian players have already performed brilliantly in the 2023-24 IPL, and they hope to impress the selectors ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be held in June.
India reached the finals of the 2023 World Cup, and will look to do well in the T20 format as well, and it will be interesting to see who makes the final cut in the Indian squad.
Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta has suggested that he wants to see Rishabh Pant in the squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Pant, who returned to cricket after one year following the fatal accident, has been in dazzling form in the IPL for Delhi Capitals. He scored 88 runs off just 43 balls and helped his team to a narrow victory over Gujrat Titans.
It was a captain’s knock from Pant where he smashed eight sixes and formed a crucial partnership with Axar Patel. Dasgupta feels that both Pant and Kuldeep Yadav should be in the flight to West Indies for the World Cup.
“He’s there in my playing 11. Before today, I think we had this chat before the game as well And I said without a shadow of doubt Rishabh Pant walks into my playing 11,” said Dasgupta to Star Sports Cricket Live, via My Khel.
“The only doubt before the IPL started was his fitness level after whatever happened a year and a half ago. What kind of physical state is he in and if he’s fit which he is, he’s better than fit. I mean he’s fitter, he’s quicker, he’s batting better. Without a shadow of doubt.”
Should India include Pant in the squad for the World Cup?
There’s no doubt that India will be a strong side with Pant in the squad. While doubts remain over his fitness, he has shown remarkable agility in all these games.
The Indian wicketkeeper, who has been “sensational” for his side in test matches before he got injured, will be looking to get into the Indian squad once again, but there is competition for places.
KL Rahul is more than capable of playing as a wicket-keeper batsman, while veteran Dinesh Karthik has once again impressed in the shorter version.
After a slow start, Delhi Capitals have jumped to sixth in the table and they will be eyeing a play-off spot. If Pant keeps on scoring runs, his chances of returning to the Indian side for the World Cup will increase heavily.