Former Indian opener has questioned Dinesh Karthik's inclusion in the side ahead of Rishabh Pant in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022. India's designated finisher has not lived up to the expectations so far. Against Pakistan, he got out when India needed two runs off two deliveries. A week later, Karthik was expected to rebuild the innings with Suryakumar Yadav after top-order collapse against South Africa. However, the wicketkeeper-batter managed to score just six runs from 14 deliveries.
Sehwag is not happy with Pant warming the benches as he said on Cricbuzz's show, “Ye toh pehle din se hona chahiye tha. Vo vahan Test cricket khele hain, ODI khele hain aur perform kiya hai. Dinesh Karthik kab Australia me khele hain? Ye koi Bangalore ki wicket nahi hai. Main aaj bhi ye hi keh raha tha ki Hooda ki jagah Pant ko khilaate, unko vahan khelne ka anubhav hai. Unhone Gabba ka ghamand toda hai Australia ka. (This should have been the case from the first day. Pant has played Tests and ODIs there, and has performed. When did Dinesh Karthik last play in Austrlaia? This isn't a Bangalore wicket. I said this even today that Pant should've been in the team instead of Hooda, Pant has the experience of playing here. His Gabba innings is a legend).”
"Main yahan bas rai de sakta hu, baaki management jisko bhi khilaaye. Agle match me problem unki hai, agar Karthik fit hote hain toh same scenario pe jaayenge. Meri nazar me Rishabh Pant pehle bhi hone chahiye the. (I can only give them suggestion, it's the management's decision. If Karthik is fit, they will go back to him again. But according to me, Rishabh Pant should've been in the XI from the start)," the 44-year-old added.
While Karthik has struggled so far in the ground stage, Pant did not make his case in the practice matches played at Perth. The southpaw scored just 18 runs from two games against Western Australia XI. Also, in two T20I innings he has played in Australia, he has scored just 20 runs including a duck. But his overall record in Australia is better than the experienced campaigner.
On the other hand, Karthik has a forgettable record in Australia as well in the shortest format. From five innings, he has scored 67 runs at an average of 16.75 with a high score of 30.
