IND vs SA ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Final: Surprisingly, Rishabh Pant has been picked as the “wildcard” player for India’s T20 World Cup final against South Africa by former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. Pant has the potential to be the game-changer for the Rohit Sharma-led team, according to Manjrekar, who is well-known for his insightful commentary on the ‘Caught and Bold’ show on Disney+ Hotstar.
Rishabh Pant’s Inspirational Comeback
It has been nothing short of amazing to watch Rishabh Pant’s return to cricket. The talented left-handed hitter made an incredible comeback, following a near-death experience in December 2022. He captained the Delhi Capitals in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), and his strong performances earned him a place in the 15-man Indian team for the T20 World Cup.
Key Performances Leading to the Final
Against Ireland in India’s opening match, Pant showed off his skill with a reverse scoop stroke that sealed the victory. It has worked well for him to drop to the number three place, as Virat Kohli will now open with captain Rohit Sharma. Pant has scored 171 runs with a strike rate of 129.54 and an average of 28.50 in seven games.
Manjrekar’s Endorsement
Ahead of the final at Kensington Oval in Barbados, Manjrekar emphasized Pant’s potential impact. “I think it will be, I think we will get a great idea about who the big match player is. I’m going to go with a wildcard and say Rishabh Pant will be the player to watch out for,” Manjrekar told ANI.
India’s Quest for a World Cup Trophy
India, under the leadership of head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, is eager to end their World Cup trophy drought. Despite setbacks in the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship, where Australia emerged victorious, India remains determined. Notably, India pushed Australia to the brink of elimination with Rohit’s 92-run and strong performances from the bowlers. Australia’s earlier unexpected loss to Afghanistan further complicated their campaign.
The Road Ahead
Sanjay Manjrekar acknowledged the strong performances of both India and Australia throughout the tournament. However, Australia’s loss to Afghanistan was a pivotal moment. “Losing to Afghanistan When you have a bad day in a very tough format, you pay the price for it. It was as good a side as India. The two best sides in the tournament were India and Australia,” Manjrekar added.
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