Serious allegations against Gautam Gambhir! Former cricketer questions Rishabh Pant’s exclusion from team

A fresh controversy has erupted over India’s team selection during their high-stakes match against Pakistan. Former cricketer Atul Wassan has openly criticized the decision to leave out wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant from the playing XI, arguing that sidelining such a dynamic player was a misstep, especially in favor of KL Rahul.

Wassan expresses discontent over Pant’s omission

Expressing his frustration, Wassan directly questioned Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir’s choices, emphasizing Pant’s ability to create pressure on opposition teams. He asserted that Pant’s aggressive style of play makes him a formidable force, while KL Rahul does not exert the same level of dominance.

"Gautam Gambhir is picking his team, but I am extremely disappointed that Rishabh Pant is not playing. He is a game-changer who can unsettle the opposition. Rahul is a good player, but he does not instill the same fear in the opposing team as Pant does," Wassan told ANI.

Wassan further highlighted that excluding a player of Pant’s caliber could negatively impact Indian cricket and potentially harm Pant’s confidence. He believes that consistently benching top players can weaken their morale and affect their overall performance in the long run.

Speculation over team selection post India-England series

Discussions about Pant’s inclusion gained traction following India's commanding 3-0 series victory against England. Speculations were rife that Pant might replace Rahul as the primary wicketkeeper-batsman. However, those rumors were laid to rest when Rahul retained his position for the Champions Trophy opener. Despite the criticism, Rahul silenced doubters by delivering a composed performance, scoring an unbeaten 41* and guiding India to a crucial victory.