India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar is of the opinion that wicketkeeper-batters Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik can both be fitted into the playing eleven by having them bat at number six and seven respectively ahead of their Super 12 opening clash against Pakistan.
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India has been torn between between picking Karthik, a finisher and Pant, a left-hander who can bat anywhere. “It’s just that maybe, if they decide to go with six bowlers, with Hardik Pandya being the sixth bowler, then he (Rishabh Pant) may not be able to find a place, but if they decide to go with Hardik Pandya as a fifth bowler, then Rishabh Pant has an opportunity to bat at number six and Karthik maybe at number seven, followed by the four bowlers. So, that could well happen, we just have to wait and see,” said Gavaskar on the television sports show.
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Since returning to the national side in June against South Africa, Karthik has been effective batting in the last five overs. Pant, meanwhile, hasn’t been in great form although the Indian team has favoured Karthik’s finishing skills. “They would certainly want a left-hander in the middle, but looking at the top four, who are in such good form, you sometimes say to yourself, ‘How many overs Rishabh Pant is going to get in? Is he going to get three or four overs? And for three or four overs, is Karthik or Rishabh better?’ So, these are all the situations they will look at and they’ll take a call on this,” added Gavaskar.
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Gavaskar also spoke on left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi’s return to the Pakistan squad after recovering from a right knee injury. His return is expected to boost the side ahead of their marquee clash against India.”I think that’s what their main concern was, about his fitness and how he will shape up. And certainly, in the two overs that he bowled, he’s shown that he’s back to full fitness. So, clearly, that is one headache gone.”
