Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant responded to former Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz’s comment about being snubbed during the 2022 T20 World Cup. Pant expressed pride in representing India, stating he doesn’t even consider playing for any other country.

In the match against Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Pant did not make it into the playing XI, with veteran cricketer Dinesh Karthik being preferred. Despite Pant’s absence, the Men in Blue secured a thrilling four-wicket victory over their archrivals in the World Cup.

Proud to Represent India – Rishabh Pant

During an interview with Rajat Sharma, the Editor-in-Chief of India TV, Rishabh Pant addressed Wahab Riaz’s comment concerning his absence from the playing XI during the previous T20 World Cup. Sharma noted that Pakistani players were keeping an eye on Pant.

“Pakistan players have their sights set on Rishabh Pant. Wahab Riaz remarked that if he were part of Pakistan’s team, he would have surely played, considering Indians sidelined him in the last T20 World Cup,” Sharma inquired.

In reply, Pant reiterated his pride in representing India, emphasizing that when you play for India, the thought of representing any other country doesn’t even cross your mind.”When you play for India, you feel such pride in representing them that the idea of representing any other country doesn’t even cross your mind,” Pant responded.

Rishabh Pant: India’s Premier Wicketkeeper-Batsman

During the 2022 T20 World Cup, Wahab Riaz remarked that Rishabh Pant is India’s top wicketkeeper-batsman since MS Dhoni. Riaz implied that Pant wouldn’t have been left out if he were in the Pakistan team.

“Rishabh Pant is India’s finest wicketkeeper-batsman post MS Dhoni era. He has even scored centuries in England and Australia. If he were in the Pakistan squad, would he have been sidelined in a World Cup match? Highly unlikely. India chose Dinesh Karthik over him,” Riaz stated to News 24HD.

“They understand that Pant is a talented player who will accumulate many runs, but they perceive him as not being a finisher. In that particular position, they require a finisher. Pant might hit a couple of sixes, but if he fails to close out the game, India will lose. That’s the perspective,” he further elaborated.

Rishabh Pant: A Resilient Comeback in IPL 2024

Rishabh Pant’s performance in recent T20I matches has been notable. Against Pakistan, he scored 39 and 14 runs in two outings. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, his scores were three against Zimbabwe and six against England. However, in the 2021 edition of the tournament, he managed scores of 39, 12, and an unbeaten 27.

The 26-year-old left-handed batter displayed a remarkable return in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 following a severe car accident in December 2022. Pant amassed 446 runs in 13 innings with a striking rate of 155.40, including three half-centuries.

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In the warm-up match before the T20 World Cup 2024, Pant scored an unbeaten half-century against Bangladesh. He continued his form with an unbeaten 36 runs off 26 balls in Team India’s eight-wicket victory against Ireland. Pant’s next appearance is anticipated in India’s clash against Pakistan in New York on Sunday, June 9.