Headed by Rohit Sharma South Africa successfully surpassed the target of 134 with five wickets remaining and two balls to spare, while Team India crumbled to a five-wicket loss. Only Suryakumar Yadav displayed some tenacity with the bat, pushing India’s total above the 130-run barrier, but everything else went wrong for them when they had the bat in hand. Dinesh Karthik, a wicketkeeper who also bats, had trouble, managing only 6 runs off of 15 balls. According to former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag, Rishabh Pant ought to have started the opening game because he is accustomed to playing on bumpy surfaces in Australia.
“This should have been the case from the first day. Rishabh Pant has played Tests and ODIs there, and has performed and he knows how to perform in these conditions. When did Dinesh Karthik last play in Australia, when has he played on such bouncy wickets? This isn’t a Bengaluru wicket. I said this even today that Pant should’ve been in the team instead of Hooda, Pant has the experience of playing here. His Gabba innings is a legend,” Sehwag said.
“I can only give them suggestion, it’s the management’s decision. If Karthik is fit, they will go back to him again. But according to me, Rishabh Pant should’ve been in the XI from the start,” he added. It is unknown if Dinesh Karthik will be ready for the next game after suffering a back injury during the game against South Africa. With four points after three games, Team India is currently ranked second in Group 2. At Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, the team’s second matchup will be against Bangladesh.
