Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant for T20 world cup Semi final: What AB de Villiers said

Rohit Sharma-led Team India will square off against England in the second semi-final of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant for T20 world cup Semi final: What AB de Villiers said. However, one of the biggest debates in the build-up to the semi-final in Adelaide is the wicket keeping position, for which two players Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant are competing.

While Dinesh Karthik had played in the first four matches of the group stage for India, Rishabh Pant had replaced the veteran wicketkeeper-batter in the side’s final game against Zimbabwe. Ahead of the semi-final, former South Africa batter AB de Villiers gave his five cents on who should play against England. “Difficult one. For me, absolutely no doubt, DK should be there. Knock-out stages, he’s experienced, I would want him.

But, here’s the curveball, I would want Pant in the team as well. I would find another spot for him. I don’t know who makes way for him,” de Villiers said on his official YouTube channel. The former Proteas star further mentions India’s game against South Africa where Deepak Hooda and Hardik Pandya played together, suggesting that Hooda could make way for Pant.

However, the batter was already replaced by Axar Patel in India’s next two matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Regardless, de Villiers said that Rishabh Pant has scored centuries in Australia in Test cricket, and India needs his firepower in the middle-order. “Pant has got Test hundreds in Australia before, he’s got the experience, and the confidence to take the game away from any bowling attack.

 He can face fast bowling and spin. He’s versatile; I will make room for both of these guys. You need DK’s experience and you need Pant’s match-winning abilities. That’s my five cents,” said de Villiers. All-format captain Rohit had earlier explained India’s decision to replace Karthik with Pant in the Indian playing XI for their Super 12 fixture against Zimbabwe.

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India had secured its semi-final berth in the lead-up to its final fixture of the Super 12 stage at the T20 World Cup. Speaking at the traditional pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Team India captain Rohit was asked about Pant’s return to the Indian playing XI before the World Cup semi-finals.