An injury to Vijay Shankar, a ‘toe niggle’ to be precise, meant that Rishabh Pant who was flown in as a cover initially for the injury to the Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan got his first outing in the World Cup game against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Sunday.
However, fans on Twitter are disappointed by the decision of Virat Kohli and team management for including young Pant in the playing XI ahead of experienced Dinesh Karthik.
It is known that Pant was initially not picked in the 15-member World Cup squad by the All India Senior Selection Committee.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Serious question: why was #DineshKarthik selected ahead of #RishabhPant in the original #TeamIndia squad?#INDvENG #ENGvIND #CWC19
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) June 30, 2019
Unfair on @DineshKarthik he was the 1st choice player in the squad as a backup keeper. But now the replacement player gets a chance ahead of him #CWC19 #IndvsEng
— Karthikeyan.G (@karthikvnr8) June 30, 2019
Such a humiliation for a decent player like @DineshKarthik. @BCCI and @imVkohli ,why did you select him for the WC squad, if you don't intend to play him..and instead give opp for a replaced player, is this how you treat your players? Shame.!!#indiavsEngland #ICCCricketWorldCup
— Gaurav Patole (@gauravs100) June 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/thayir_sadham/status/1145263086686703616
https://twitter.com/b_soorya/status/1145263806139863040
https://twitter.com/mlcrunch/status/1145263663273562113
FFS!! The amount of injustice done to @DineshKarthik is damn too high 😑😤…I'm loosing my mind over it and can't even imagine how Dk is feeling right now 😢😰. Being @DineshKarthik is too damn hard! 😞#indvseng #dk #wc19 #bcci #politics 😣 #indiancricket #Fuckteammanagement 🖕
— Dinesh Dinz (@dinz012) June 30, 2019
If you are @DineshKarthik , you have every right to be upset, angered and frustrated. Getting a replacement in, ahead of a squad player, beyond me.
— Vinit (@PadThighLover) June 30, 2019
Dear @BCCI what about @DineshKarthik why bring him to England if u not selecting Playing XI #ENGvsIND #CWC19 https://t.co/38Sgrsnijh
— Karuppaswamy Konar ᴸᵉᵗʰᵃˡ ᶠᵒʳᶜᵉ (@Karuppaswamy18) June 30, 2019
#INDvENG
There is no point playing #RishabhPant when he was bot even in original squad. #DineshKarthik was a better option to be replaced at #4— myviewsmyvoice (@myviewsmyvoice) June 30, 2019
Dinesh Karthik right now.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/rxcNOLSMhJ
— Vidit Singh (@kvidit11) June 30, 2019
Dear @BCCI isn't it just harsh when an experienced campaigner, a better and consistent batsman,a better fielder as compared to the one selected gets left out ahead of @RishabPant777 even when @DineshKarthik was the first choice in the 15….
— Laksh Gupta (@LakshGupta28) June 30, 2019
Being Dinesh Karthik is very tough.if he had the chance to bat at No 4 during warm up matches ahead of Kl he would have been the perfect no 4 . keeping the veteran like dk jus to warm bench nd giving chance to an amateur kid who often throws his wicket is completely unfair
— Vijay I'M AWESOME! (@vijayaravind32) June 30, 2019
I don't understand this. Dinesh Karthik was selected over Rihabh Pant. Yet Pant gets a match before Karthik 🤔#TeamIndia #INDvENG #CWC19
— Sayantan Jana (@SJanaQA) June 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/sougatamahanta1/status/1145263980530806785
Dinesh Karthik has to be the unluckiest keeper in the world – in the dawn of his career he had Dhoni and now in the dusk he has rishabh pant. He would walk into any other team. He's the Stuart McGill of India
— Sahil Mohan Gupta (@DigitallyBones) June 30, 2019
#INDvENG unfair to leave dinesh karthik
— Ravi Falia (@rv_falia) June 30, 2019
Dear @BCCI why you selected @DineshKarthik. India required middle oder who can rotate strike comfortably. We know pant is not straight bater. #INDvENG #CWC19 #RishabhPant
— Mahesh shetty (@maheshshetty191) June 30, 2019
@BCCI # are you really mad of what you do, why did you pick Dinesh in 15, now why are you keeping him out, already you have spoiled Dinesh Karthik life, now you are playing with him, you pay the price for it, stupid thoughts
— Babbu (@babbusrinu) June 30, 2019
@BCCI #dont you feel shame doing injustice to Dinesh Karthik
— Babbu (@babbusrinu) June 30, 2019
Still feel @DineshKarthik would have been a better option than @RishabPant777 #cwc2019 #ENGvIND
— Bhushan Bhujbal (@iamBBhushan) June 30, 2019
@cricketworldcup
Need to feel sad for @DineshKarthik
I think he should have better option as compared to @RishabPant777 .#ENGvsIND
Better luck— Rudra Bhujel (@rudrabhujel7) June 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/dhivakarrs/status/1145259966002896896
Before World cup:
Selectors – We are picking Dinesh Karthik over Rishab Pant for his kepping skills.
Pant was not selected in WC squad
At World Cup:
Dhawan injured. Pant comes in as replacement.
Pant included in playing 11.
DK haven’t started a single game in this WC yet.— Dikson Samuel (@diksonsamuel) June 30, 2019
Feels for @DineshKarthik#INDvENG #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/MQLsred7tG
— Darshan Pania (@i_m_Pania) June 30, 2019