BE FAIR: Why Rishabh Pant must play in Champions Trophy?

Rishabh Pant took a nasty blow on his knee during a practice session in Dubai on Sunday. It was the left knee. He iced it and then came back with heavy bandage/taping and batted. This is how Pant is, the same guy whose right knee was almost destroyed in a high-speed car crash in December 2022. The spirit of Pant is huge, he is a fighter to the core.

On Monday, Pant, one of the most ‘infectious’ Indian cricketers who makes his presence felt all the time, was signing autographs in Dubai. The more fortunate ones even got selfies clicked. Pant has a lot to do, more than selfies. It is no secret, there are some cold vibes between him and coach Gautam Gambhir. It has to do with some past history from Delhi cricket, says the grapevine. Surinder Khanna, a former cricketer, who first shone in the Asia Cup in Sharjah four decades ago says, Gambhir and Pant have never got along. At the same time, Khanna says, Pant must play in the Champions Trophy.

What one saw in the three ODIs against England was bizarre, Pant never got a chance. How and why, only Gambhir can answer. Pant is a big match player. He was born for the big matches, big stage and anything where he can do the unthinkable. Those who have watched him at nets say he has been smiling and going about his job with the same enthusiasm, be it keeping or smashing the ball at practice sessions, in Dubai.

Someone like Pant does not need to prove himself any more. His return from the jaws of death and playing in the 2024 IPL was defining. If he is being given the cold shoulder by Gambhir, it does not go unnoticed. There is no way Gambhir can justify KL Rahul is a better wicket-keeper. Everyone knows what value Pant brings to the side. The way he took blows in the Sydney Test during the BGT Series and scored runs cannot be forgotten. So, if, Gambhir is playing politics, then it is bad for the team.

Pant has to keep fighting these battles no reason. When he shone in the ICC T20 World Cup last year, it was a great sight. Sample this, the marquee match against Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai will be hot. There will be massive viewership and someone like Pant would be an obvious choice. There have been flash-points before, wherein Gambhir has thrown his weight behind a Harshit Rana or some other KKR player and pushed him into the national squad as well.

Then again, despite the calm, it is well-known, what all happened between Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma in Ausyralia. Add to it the presence of selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, hopefully, selections will be fair and square. Gambhir has sent wrong signals of favouritism in Team India. Coaches are supposed to be honest and unbiased. “If you look at the tenure of Ravi Shastri, he was a great guy. If messages had to be sent to players, he would do it through the captain (Virat Kohli). If Rahul Dravid as coach wanted to make or take decisions, he did it without ruffling feathers. As for Gambhir, he needs to earn respect from the players and not be seen as someone who has his own agenda. I mean, there are so many in Delhi cricket circles who will tell you tales about Gambhir,” Khanna told One Turf News.

Be that as it may, Indian cricket fans know Pant is a must for Team India to do well. Hopefully, despite the hit on the knee and returning to practice, he will not face more scrutiny. Pant is a feared cricketer and he does stuff which KL Rahul can’t.