Rishabh Pant to remain on bench? Predicting India’s playing 11 against Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2022

Rishabh Pant is unlikely to feature against Hong Kong

Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Dinesh Karthik kept Rishabh Pant on the bench against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022.
Karthik is unlikely to be replaced by Pant in the match against Hong Kong either.
The option of replacing Avesh Khan with R Ashwin is also a lucrative one.

The Indian cricket team won their Asia Cup 2022 opener in an enthralling fashion against Pakistan on Sunday but the team’s composition hadn’t impressed everyone. The management’s decision to leave Rishabh Pant out on the bench in favour of Dinesh Karthik hasn’t been welcomed by all. Going into the clash against Hong Kong, will Pant remain on the bench?

It wasn’t the finest of starts for India at the top against Pakistan, with KL Rahul departing for a duck while Rohit Sharma also struggled for runs. Yet, the opening pair isn’t expected to change against Hong Kong, with both Rahul and Rohit set to be persisted with.

Virat Kohli, who scored a reasonable 34-ball 35 against Pakistan, will surely remain at the No. 3 spot while Suryakumar Yadav is the designated No. 4. But, a possible promotion in the batting order for Hardik Pandya or Ravindra Jadeja is possible depending upon the situation of the match.

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Dinesh Karthik is expected to continue as the team’s No. 1 choice wicket-keeper in favour of Rishabh Pant who had made the position his own over the last couple of years. Karthik’s finishing ability at the moment seems to be giving him an edge over the youngster.

Yuzvendra Chahal will remain India’s second spinner in the team while the pace bowling unit is sure to have the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. The option of replacing Avesh Khan with Ravichandran Ashwin does exist. There are certain advantages of playing an additional spinner against Hong Kong but the team management might not decide to do that after just one game.

A victory tonight would confirm India a spot in the Super 4 round of Asia Cup 2022. So far, Afghanistan is the only team to have qualified for the next round.

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India’s likely playing XI vs Hong Kong: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan/R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh