Sanjay Manjrekar Picks Rishabh Pant as Key Player for India in T20 World Cup Final Against South Africa
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.
