By Parv Anand
New Delhi [India], June 29: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has named Rishabh Pant as the "wildcard" player for the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team in their T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Manjrekar believes Pant will be the player to watch out for, ahead of stars like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.
Rishabh Pant's journey back to cricket has been inspirational. After a life-threatening accident in December 2022, Pant returned to lead the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. His impressive performance earned him a spot in India's 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup.
One of Pant's standout moments was his reverse scoop shot against Ireland, which showcased his skill and confidence. Ahead of the final at Kensington Oval in Barbados, Manjrekar, who appears on the 'Caught and Bold' show on Disney+ Hotstar, highlighted Pant's potential impact.
With Virat Kohli moving to the opening slot alongside captain Rohit Sharma, Pant has been promoted to the number three position. He has excelled in this role, scoring 171 runs in seven matches with an average of 28.50 and a strike rate of 129.54.
India, under the guidance of head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, is aiming to end their World Cup trophy drought. The team has faced heartbreak in previous ICC tournaments, but this time, they are determined to succeed. Australia, one of the top teams, was eliminated after losses to India and Afghanistan.
Manjrekar noted that both India and Australia were the best teams in the tournament, but Australia paid the price for their loss to Afghanistan. Afghanistan, however, was outplayed by South Africa in the semi-final, setting up a final clash between India and South Africa at the Kensington Oval. If rain disrupts the match, a reserve day is available.
Sanjay Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team. He is now a cricket commentator and analyst.
Rishabh Pant is an Indian cricketer known for his aggressive batting style. He plays as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the Indian national team.
The T20 World Cup is a cricket tournament where teams from different countries compete in a format called Twenty20, which means each team plays 20 overs.
South Africa is a country in Africa. In cricket, they have a national team that competes in international tournaments like the T20 World Cup.
IPL stands for Indian Premier League, a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India where teams from different cities compete.
Virat Kohli is a famous Indian cricketer known for his excellent batting skills. He has been the captain of the Indian national team.
Rohit Sharma is an Indian cricketer known for his powerful batting. He is also a key player in the Indian national team.
Kensington Oval is a famous cricket stadium located in Barbados, an island in the Caribbean.
A reserve day is an extra day set aside to continue a match if it gets interrupted by rain or other issues.
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