'Even if Rishabh Pant Has Very Good IPL, I Don't Think Team...': Zaheer Khan on DC Star's Chances to Get Place in T20 WC Squad

Veteran India paceman Zaheer Khan feels it won’t be easy for Rishabh Pant to make a place for himself in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Pant is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in the horrific car accident in 2023, however, he is all set to make his return to competitive cricket with IPL 2024. Meanwhile, there is no confirmation yet whether he will be keeping the wickets or not.

Pant is currently working hard at NCA for his rehabilitation program to get fit ahead of the Indian Premier League where he plays for Delhi Capitals.

Zaheer said that everyone will be happy to see Pant returning on the field but he has to cross a lot of hurdles to make a case for himself to get a place in the T20 World Cup squad.

“If you see Rishabh Pant’s journey, the turn he has gone through is not easy for any player. Firstly, everyone who is attached to cricket will be happy once he comes back on the field. He has a lot of hurdles to cross,” Zaheer said in a discussion on Colors Cineplex.

The veteran pacer said that even if the southpaw performs well in Indian Premier League it will be difficult for him to straightaway get a place in the T20 WC squad.

“Firstly, he has to come back and play. It’s not easy at this level. You need to get used to it and get the rhythm back. Those things might take time. It’s great if it doesn’t. However, keeping all things in mind, even if he has a very good IPL, I don’t think the team will be thinking in that direction,” he said.

During the same discussion, former spinner Pragyan Ojha also said that KL Rahul and Jitesh Sharma are the frontrunners for the wicketkeepers’ slot in the Indian team for the mega ICC event.

“Based on what I am seeing, I feel it will be KL Rahul and Jitesh Sharma. Rishabh Pant’s name will always be taken because of the impact he has made. However, it needs to be seen how he proves his fitness,” he said.

The former spinner suggested that it would be necessary to keep the emotions aside while picking the squad.

“You need to be a little realistic. You have to keep your emotions aside at times. It needs to be seen where he actually is, and how he proves himself in the first four or five matches of the IPL, fitness-wise and not skill-wise. If we talk about the present situation, I feel KL Rahul and Jitesh Sharma are making a strong claim,” he added.