Although selectors still want to give Rishabh Pant a last chance to mend his poor run of form, team management, including Shastri and Kohli are more inclined to rely on old hand Wriddhiman Saha during the first Test against the Proteas. Pant, who struggled in the T20I series Vs SA scored four and 19 but is still part of the Test squad.
Chief selector, MSK Prasad had earlier said that one has to be patient with Rishabh Pant and not rush into any conclusion. Pant is the only Indian wicketkeeper to score Test centuries in England and Australia, a fact that has held him in good stead so far.
But, Saha is a much-experienced guy and is a better keeper than Pant. However, critics feel that Pant’s long spate of failure and inept DRS reviews are certainly weighing down on him. The problem with selectors and management is that Pant is treated as the mainstay wicket-keeper of Team India after MS Dhoni.
At the same time, many experts believe that experience should have the last laugh. Saha, with his 32 Tests, averages 30.63 which include three tons and five 50s. It was injury woes that kept such a talented wicketkeeper-batsman out of the game for so long. India play South Africa in the first Test from October 02 in Vizag.
Image courtesy: Indiatimes
