Leaving out Rishabh Pant in the T20 World Cup team will be the best thing for India: Wasim Jaffer

Rishabh Pant does not feature in the Indian middle-order, Wasim Jaffer has said. The former opener has reasoned out his argument by stating that Pant's performances in the T20Is aren't up to the mark.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes that wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant does not fit into the Indian middle-order going into the T20 World Cup in Australia. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer said that Pant's performances with the Indian middle order are not up to the mark and that is why Dinesh Karthik should be played ahead of him.

India are set to play in the first T20I match against Australia in Mohali on Tuesday, 20 September. While discussing the playing XI of the side, Jaffer said that he would like to see Axar Patel and Dinesh Karthik feature in the playing XI.

"I think Axar Patel has done really well in recent times, so I don't know why India has not trusted him, because he has won matches with his batting," he said.

Asked to elaborate on the Rishabh Pant issues, the former player said that it is something that the thinktank has pondered upon a lot.

"India need to figure out whether Rishabh Pant plays or not. The Indian thinktank has been thinking a lot about putting Rishabh Pant in. He has been brilliant and we have talked about it many times. In Test cricket and in the ODIs, he has played series-winning, game-changing knocks, but that has not happened in T20 internationals or even in T20s," Jaffer said.

"So India need to figure out if they want to stick with Rishabh Pant in the top six or if they want to play Dinesh Karhitk, who has done really well since the Indian Premier League. For me personally, Rishabh Pant does not fit in number 4 or 5. His best place is to open batting, which I don't think will happen. I feel leaving out Rishabh Pant in the World Cup will be the best thing," the former batter concluded.