'Not fit for T20' - Twitter unimpressed with Rishabh Pant giving away wicket while playing irresponsible shot

India and Pakistan are clashing in the second installment of their heavyweight bout in the Super Four stage of the ongoing Asia Cup tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 4th of September. The Indian team made a rollicking start to their innings after being put in to bat first by Babar Azam. But Pakistan clawed their way back in the game after a flurry of wickets, including a gift from Rishabh Pant, who was dismissed playing a needless shot.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who were critiqued for their indifferent form in the tournament so far, gave India their best-ever start in the powerplays against their arch-rivals in T20Is. But the Pakistani bowlers halted the momentum by chipping away at the wickets in the middle overs. 

And after a few quick wickets, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant steadied the ship for India with a handy partnership for the fourth wicket, before the southpaw tried an audacious reverse sweep against Shadab Khan, leading to his demise. Pant's dismissal came at a crucial juncture of the innings as the Indians were building a head of steam to end the innings on a high, invoking collective angst from the Indian fans.

Notably, India suffered another setback in the lead up to the high-profile clash against Pakistan as Avesh Khan was sidelined due to illness. Rohit Sharma raised a few eyebrows by naming young leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi as the replacement of the tearaway pacer in the squad, leaving India with two frontline pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI.

Another change that surprised the people was the inclusion of Deepak Hooda at the expense of veteran batter Dinesh Karthik. The thinking behind Hooda's inclusion could have been his ability to provide a few handy overs in the middle as India are without the services of their effervescent all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for an unforeseeable future.

Rishabh Pant is not suitable for T-20. Ishan Kishan is best WC for T-20 #pant #kishan

— Mrityunjay Kumar Rai (@jay1980delhi) September 4, 2022

What a blunder to play #Pant ahead of #dineshkarthik!

Just being a lefthander doesn't guarantee runs!

Pant doesn't possess pyrotechnics of Karthik.

He is very good in tests. Not fit for #T20 .

— Kuldeep Sharma (@Kuldeep9Sharma) September 4, 2022

#INDvsPAK #pant #urvashi
Pant watching Urvashi again in stands :- pic.twitter.com/jeOVZgoNoH

— Harsh Choubey (@Harshchoubey44) September 4, 2022

Urvashi mat aao stadium hamara Pant nervous ho jata hai 😭#INDvsPAK#PANT #INDvsPAK2022 pic.twitter.com/6v7q8dPc4q

— 🆂🅾🅷🅰🅸🅻 (@pratikxlucifer) September 4, 2022

Worst shot #pant. Wish he had been left out. #INDvsPAK . Selectors shd BAN switch hitting.

— Balasubramanian K (@digital_balu) September 4, 2022

chotu bhaiya didi sahi bol rhi thi dhyan do yrr
🥷#INDvsPAK #pant #IndiaVsPakistan @UrvashiRautela

— The Penman 🇮🇳 (@hemant__yadav) September 4, 2022

#Pant in #T20 such a let down.

Another day, another time thrown away wicket for a nothing shot.

Averaging in 20’s , strike rate in 120’s.#DineshKarthik is in his best phase ever should be utilised as much as possible. #RishabhPant #IndiaVsPakistan #INDvsPAK #T20

— PRD (@Cinema_With_PRD) September 4, 2022

Irresponsible shot by #Pant #INDvsPAK

— Dr.Surya Upadhyay (@iamsurya0212) September 4, 2022