‘Why didn’t they play Pant at No. 4 vs South Africa?’ – Ex-India opener questions selectors after BCCI announces team for New Zealand ODIs

On Saturday, January 3, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named the squad that will face New Zealand in a three-match One-Day International series.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned some of the selection committee’s decisions, directed by Ajit Agarkar.

Chopra believes that Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s exclusion from the squad was warranted, as Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer returned to the lineup after being sidelined for a spell due to injury. While Gaikwad scored a fantastic century in the recent ODI series against South Africa while batting at No. 4, Chopra believes that the team management missed a trick by not playing Rishabh Pant in that position, as the latter has been retained in the squad for the match against New Zealand as KL Rahul’s backup keeper.

“Ruturaj misses out because Iyer has returned. Tilak also feels this way because Gill has returned. And this begs the question: why didn’t they play Pant at 4 when the opportunity presented itself against SA? Since you’re keeping him as a backup keeper, it would’ve made a lot more sense to play him in Iyer’s absence,” Chopra wrote on ‘X’.

Aakash Chopra slams Indian think tank for usage of Nitish Kumar Reddy

The 48-year-old cricketer-turned commentator questioned why the Indian team management doesn’t give Nitish Kumar Reddy playing opportunities.

“Also, if NKR is indispensable…why doesn’t he get a game? Even when India’s fielding 3 pacers?? Will he get a game now?? With four pacers? How can you get future-ready (read for Pandya’s absence) when he’s always warming the bench?”