• Source:JND
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India legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar believes that Men in Blue should pick Rishab Pant over KL Rahul for the wicketkeeper role for this year's T20 World Cup 2024 due to his game-changing abilities.

Pant has been out of any cricketing action since a car accident in December 2022 while returning to his home in Roorkee from Delhi. His car crashed into the divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway in a horrific car accident. The cricketer suffered multiple injuries in the crash including a ligament tear in the knee for which he underwent surgery.

A year after his accident, Pant has made significant progress and is inching close to making a comeback on the cricket field. He will captain Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League after missing the last year due to injury.

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Despite being out of action for more than a year, Gavaskar finds Pant suitable for India wicketkeeper role in the T20 showpiece event in the West Indies and the United States in June.

“I see him (KL Rahul) as a wicketkeeper as well but I will say one thing before that: if Rishabh Pant is fit on even one leg, he should come in the team because he is a game-changer in every format. If I am the selector, I will put his name first," Gavaskar told Star Sports in reply to a question on KL Rahul playing in the T20 World Cup 2024 as wicketkeeper.

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“However, if Rishabh Pant is unavailable and KL Rahul keeps wickets, it will be good because the balance will also get created. Then you have the option to play him as an opener or use him in the middle order as a finisher at No. 5 or No. 6,” he added.

On Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's return to the T20I side for the Afghanistan series, Gavaskar feels that the duo should not be judged on their overall IPL performance but on major contributions in the upcoming tournament.

“I feel the IPL form will be crucial because that will be the current form. The Afghanistan series is in January. The World Cup is in June. So whoever has good form in March, April and May should be given consideration first, that performance should be given consideration," Gavaskar said.

"Along with that, I will also say that even if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have an ordinary IPL, but they score runs there, you cannot score runs in every match, but suppose they make good contributions in five out of 14 matches, you will have to take advantage of their experience, and you can probably pick them in the team,” the veteran batter added.

Former India captain further added that Rohit and Virat should be added to India's flying contingent even if they are not included in 15-member squad due to their massive experience in the format.

“I will also say that, it’s an out-of-the-box suggestion, you can take them (Kohli and Rohit) along with the team as well, if you cannot pick them in the 15, because of their experience. If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the dugout, imagine what will be the team’s confidence,” Gavaskar asserted.

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