The Indian management experimented with the squad to find their preferred fifteen ahead of the Asia Cup 2022. Looking at the team’s performance in the Super 4 stage of the tournament, it feels that excessive experimentation has cost the side a chance to reach the finals.
India suffered their 2nd consecutive loss as Sri Lanka handed the Men in Blue a six-wicket defeat.
Several experts questioned the lack of clarity, and one such instance left Rishabh Pant in a state of shock.
Batting first, India struggled for runs with KL Rahul and Virat Kohli departing early in the match. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav resurrected the innings with their 97-run partnership.
Rohit played an excellent knock of 72 from 41 balls. The 35-year-old’s innings ended in the 13th over when India were on 110.
Rishabh Pant, who sat alongside Hardik Pandya, was ready to enter the pitch but was shocked when he learned that the coach had decided to send Hardik ahead of him.
The southpaw was taken aback by the decision, and the cameraman captured his disappointment.
Pant was ready to go out but Hardik was preferred over him. Pandya was also taken aback but agreed, while Pant went back to take his seat,
Pant has been struggling to score runs in T20Is. He was selected ahead of Dinesh Karthik since the team lacked left-handed batters after Ravindra Jadeja’s injury.
Hardik, who got promotion in the order, failed to make an impact and returned to the pavilion after scoring 17 off 13 balls.
Pant came next and hit three quick boundaries. The 24-year-old failed to convert his start and was dismissed after scoring 17 runs.