For the longest time, the competition between Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper’s slot in India’s Playing XI as intense. Rishabh Pant rose to superstardom thanks to his epic knocks across Australia, England, South Africa, and was earmarked as MS Dhoni’s successor in all formats, while Samson paid the prize for inconsistency.
But when Rishabh Pant was out indefinitely due to a near-fatal car crash and was uncertain about recovering in time for the T20 World Cup, Samson was in with a chance. He scored a century for India in an ODI against South Africa in January and has enjoyed his best-ever IPL season, scoring 504 runs with the possibility of more.
Rishabh Pant’s tryst with destiny
Rishabh Pant indeed has defied all odds physically after an horrifying accident making him fit to play as Delhi Capitals skipper and wicket keeper and is amongst runs and his usual hitting spree this season. None for the second it is been thought that Rishabh Pant is the same guy who was caught almost in a non moving condition a year ago.
In cricket some destinies are destined , Hardly anyone knew that the hero of the famous Gabba win and the swashbuckling middle order wicket keeper batter in Tests Rishabh Pant would meet the fate of destiny to halt his cricketing journey for a brief period of time. The Indian team who had the torrid time in ICC events in 2023 and by year end a horrified test match vs South Africa had surely remembered and missed Rishabh Pant.
As fate could have it on the morning of December 30 2022, Rishabh Pant on his way back home met with a fateful accident and had a lucky escape. However this accident indeed turned out to be fateful for the Indian Cricket Team over the next year 2023 as Indian selection committee was caught in dilemma to replace a player like caliber of Pant who with his pyrotechnics with the bat could swing the game anytime in team’s favour especially in red ball cricket.
Rishabh Pant through his flamboyance in the tour down under 2021-22 and the English tour months later had already made a mark in the mind of former cricketers and India seemed to have found an able hitter at No 6 who could now be compared to likes of Adam Gilchrist of Australia changing the facet of how test cricket could be played.
Pant (26) had a lucky escape after he was severely injured in a car accident that took place on the morning of December 30, 2022. The stumper’s car collided with a divider on the Delhi-Dehradun highway.
Rishabh Pant’s return to usual self in IPL 2024.
Rishabh Pant’s remarkable journey to full fitness for the IPL, following a life-threatening car accident 14 months prior, has silenced any lingering doubts about his abilities. Despite a cautious start with the bat, the talented and composed cricketer swiftly regained his form, showcasing his trademark efficiency behind the stumps and his audacious stroke play. Far from being subdued by his time away from the game, Pant’s absence seems to have sharpened his unorthodox style and playful demeanor.
Embracing his second chance with gratitude, the DC captain has approached his game with a newfound sense of adventure, balanced with maturity, evident in his performance for the struggling Capitals. Eventually, both Sanju and Rishabh Pant got the nod and secured a place in India’s 15-man squad. Despite scoring fewer runs and looking unsure in patches, the belief was that Pant would pip Samson and start as India’s wicketkeeper in the T20 World Cup.
But the raging-hot form displayed by the Rajasthan Royals captain has entirely changed the narrative. On current form, and depending on where RR finishes in the IPL 2024, Samson can hold the edge over Pant, who scored 446 runs for Delhi Capitals this season at an average of 40.5 and strike rate of 155.4.
After recuperating, Pant has demonstrated his peak physical condition and form, establishing himself as a standout choice. Despite competition from players like Sanju Samson, Pant’s prowess is undeniable.
However, Yuvraj Singh doesn’t think so. The former India all-rounder reckons India can really do with a left-hander in the middle order and hence, gives his vote of confidence to Pant.
Yuvraj Singh picks Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson in his XI for T20I World Cup.
Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has dissected the best playing XI for the Men in Blue for the T20 World Cup 2024. The 42-year-old notably preferred Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson despite the latter’s encouraging form for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024
The selectors have preferred two specialist keepers – Pant and Samson – for the showpiece event. Pant marked his long-standing return in IPL 2024 and accumulated 446 runs in 13 matches, but the Delhi Capitals (DC) could not qualify for the playoffs. On the other hand, Samson has garnered widespread praise for his leadership skills and has smashed over 500 runs.
Speaking to ICC, Yuvraj claimed that Rohit Sharma, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav should make up India’s top four. He gave preference to Pant over Samson in the playing XI, given the DC keeper is a left-handed batter.
“I think Rohit (Sharma) and (Yashaswi) Jaiswal should definitely open. Virat (Kohli) has been batting at No.3 and that’s his position. And then you get Surya (Yadav) at four, and then you got a couple of big options. I’d like to see a couple of left-hand, right-hand combinations because it is harder to bowl at two combinations all the time.
I’d probably go for Rishabh. Obviously, Sanju is also in great form, but Rishabh (is a) left-hander, and I believe that Rishabh has massive potential to win games for India, which he has done in the past,” Yuvraj explained.
India will open their World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5.