Use Dinesh Karthik instead of Rishabh Pant
Over the past four years, there hasn’t been much change in the Indian squad. While injuries have given chances to some debutants, the injured players have eventually returned and reclaimed their spots no matter how well the newcomers did (Karun Nair being a good example). The only spot in which there has been any real turnover is the wicket-keeper after the retirement of MS Dhoni.
Indian fans have not really been able to see the rise of a new young star in test cricket recently. However, in this series, a major spot has opened up with the injury of first-choice wicketkeeper Wridhimman Saha. Now many fans are clamouring for the inclusion of Rishabh Pant- after all, the Delhi batsman is the type of young attacking star that Indian fans haven’t seen in Test cricket for a long time.
However, the team management should resist the temptation to give Pant a debut and instead trust the experienced Dinesh Karthik. In India’s last series win in England in 2007, Karthik was one of India’s most important players (hitting three fifties in three tests), as he soaked up pressure and helped shield India’s star-studded middle order from the new ball. This skill will be similarly vital if Karthik were to bat at No.6 as he would likely have to face the second new ball on several occasions.
Moreover, Karthik has improved his keeping and is also superior to the inexperienced Pant in that department. Thus considering Karthik’s superior batting and keeping, he should be the choice for the first test. Pant’s time will come but this series against England is simply too vital to be risked.
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