There was a lot of discussion before the India vs New Zealand first One Day International (ODI) on whether wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant should be in the playing XI or should Sanju Samson get chance. Captain Shikhar Dhawan and coach VVS Laxman decided to play both Pant and Samson and dropped Deepak Hooda from the team.
The gamble didn't pay off as not only did Rishabh Pant failed to make a mark with the bat scoring just 15 off 23 balls, Indian team also lost the match to New Zealand by seven wickets.
From the Indian team, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill scored half-centuries. Pant once again missed the chance of score runs. Even before the match, there had been a lot of criticism around Rishabh Pant regarding his form.
The last 10 innings of Rishabh Pant: Pant's has been going through a lean patch since the Asia Cup earlier this year.
Fans furious on Pant: Since the selectors have kept Pant in the team despite his below par performances, the fans have been furious about it. On Friday, many fans on Twitter were angry about Pant's inclusion in the team.
#RishabhPant pant is a consistent player 🔥The future of Indian cricket & the most luckiest sport's person in the whole world now. #MasterOfOpportunities #IndVsNewZeland pic.twitter.com/c0OGpuabNu
— MS SINGH (@shekhar0060) November 25, 2022
The fans have been angry over the team not replacing Pant despite his poor performances.
Should Pant be replaced with Samson? If we compare the stats of the two, in T20 cricket, Samson has a better strike rate and average than Pant.
India next faces New Zealand in the second ODI on November 27 at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand.Ask Sanju Samson to keep the wicket, Drop Rishabh Pant and Play Hooda : Akash Chopra pic.twitter.com/AcltMgI0ho
— 𝖇𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖚 🇦🇷 (@Brutu24) November 25, 2022