Dinesh Karthik made it to India’s World Cup squad as a back-up wicketkeeper-batsman for MS Dhoni. There were many who felt that Rishabh Pant was the more deserving player, but selector MSK Prasad clarified that better wicketkeeping skills was the reason behind Karthik’s selection.
Bengal cricketer Manoj Tiwary had earlier accused Karthik, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper, of deliberately misusing Shubman Gill. While playing for KKR, Gill has been made to bat in the lower middle order where he has not been able to make a mark. The 19-year-old was given a chance to open the innings only when openers Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine were injured. The right-handed batsman scored 65 in that match against Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 12.
It was expected that Gill will open the batting, or at least be in the top order after a half-century in the previous match as an opening batsman. But he was once again demoted to No.7, where he could score only 15 runs against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This made Tiwary question Karthik’s motives, as the match was one day before India’s World Cup squad selection.
The 33-year-old tweeted:
Is #ShubmanGill playing dis match ?? Oh now I understand tomorrow is d World Cup selection Who says it’s a team game ?? Sometimes it’s quite obvious to d eyes #KKRvCSK
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) April 14, 2019
Wen someone has played a classy innings of 65 runs in d previous game, than I as a cricket fan want that player to play higher up d order especially wen d team has lost a game. It’s about providing d platform 4 our domestic players to bat higher order ahead of overseas players
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) April 14, 2019
Tiwary is possibly right about KKR not using Gill’s talent properly, but Prasad revealed that Indian Premier League (IPL) performances were not given importance while selecting the World Cup squad.
When the Under-19 World Cup-winning batsman was given chance in the ODI side against New Zealand, he could score only 16 runs in two ODIs, which could be the reason selectors didn’t consider him for the WC squad.
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