'Nark me jalega tu' - Fans divided over Rishabh Pant's absence from Indian squad for Sri Lanka series

Rishabh Pant, India's wicketkeeper-batter, has been left off the teams for both the ODI and T20 against Sri Lanka. The batter, who was born in Delhi, has been having trouble lately in the white-ball formats and took a break from the ODI series against Bangladesh.

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The management's decision to stick with Dinesh Karthik cost Pant his position in the T20I lineup. The seasoned cricketer took on the responsibility of the team's primary wicketkeeper and participated in the majority of the matches both before and during the 20-20 World Cup 2022.

Despite being a little inconsistent, Pant has largely performed well in terms of his ODI credentials since 2021. In July 2022, he scored his maiden hundred in the format against England, but his subsequent tour of New Zealand was a disappointment.

Ishan Kishan has reportedly advanced in the pecking order as a result of his rising reputation, which has been cemented by his record-breaking double century against Bangladesh. It should be noted that Kishan is the only option for a wicketkeeper in the T20I team, while KL Rahul also becomes available for the ODI squad.

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Following the squad announcement, a number of reports claim that Rishabh Pant has actually been given a rest by the team management rather than being completely removed from the lineup. The wicketkeeper-batter, according to sources, needs to strengthen his knee; as a result, he won't be playing in the white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

Team India T20I squad for Sri Lanka T20Is

Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar

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Team India T20I squad for Sri Lanka ODIs

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh

Here is how Twitter reacted to Rishabh Pant's absence

So, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are now ahead of Rishabh Pant in the T20 pecking order. It was on the cards. Ishan, Ruturaj, Samson and Sky is a fabulous top 4. Expect Rajat Patidar to compete with Hooda and Tripathi for the last batting spot

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 27, 2022

I wont be surprised if the selection committee decides to confine Rishab Pant only for Test like Pujara, Mayank. He cannot be our captain. We have some gems like Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson to play white ball cricket.#RishabhPant

— Venky Sriram (@venkysriram17) December 28, 2022

Fans after dhawan and pant dropped from odi#INDvsSL #ShikharDhawan #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/mgilKZ4ceo

— Mayank Kumar (@moonstar_live) December 28, 2022

What a Roller coster ride for #SanjuSamson and #RishabhPant in 2022.

Some times in ODIs, sometimes in T20Is and sometimes in Tests.
Sanju ODI IN T20 OUT
Now ODI OUT T20 IN
Rishabh ODI IN T20 IN Test IN
Then ODI IN T20 OUT Test IN
Now ODI OUT T20 OUT Test IN

— निष्कर्ष (Nishh) (@Nishkarsh1108) December 28, 2022

When #sanjusamson came into the T20 squad in 2020 india changed kl rahul as their wk after #rishabhpant was dropped and after rishabpant made a comeback rishabhpant again became the 1 st choice wk removing kl rahul. When other wk keepers are trying hard to get into the side. wow

— musictones (@musicnotes2218) December 28, 2022

They won't play him in t20. He may get 1 match or so. They want to keep sanju out of ranji trophy. So that he won't get a chance to prove in domestic. Same happened in vijay hazare trophy as well. So sanju in team is more like a trap. It's an old trick of bcci.

— V ANAND (@itsnandan) December 28, 2022

Very true..SS deserves a long run

— Nilesh Satav (@84nilesh) December 28, 2022

(1) Rishabh pant in t20 cricket in 2022.
(2) Rishabh pant in test cricket in 2022. pic.twitter.com/XGhMMKoVg5

— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) December 23, 2022

This pecking order is irrelevant as of now because Rishabh is not actually dropped from both ODI & T20I.

— Aditya (@Adityakrsaha) December 27, 2022

Not only in T20, ODIs as well! No place for Pant! And KL somehow holding onto his by becoming the wicketkeeper. What you will find interesting though, is that if KL plays ahead of SKY in the ODIs then KL would be the wicket keeper! Some serious way to keep Sanju Out.

— shashank singh (@shashank_singh2) December 27, 2022