Twitter shocked as Karthik dons the gloves instead of Pant

In the first T20 international against Windies, Team India used Dinesh Karthik as the wicket-keeper despite including Rishabh Pant in the playing XI. This move by the team management didn’t go well with the fans as they expressed their dissent on social media.

Karthik keeps wickets when Pant was the original wicket-keeper

Interestingly, in the 12-member squad announced by the BCCI for the first T20I Rishabh Pant was the designated wicket-keeper while Dinesh Karthik was in the team only as a batsman.

BCCI announce their squad of 12 for the fiest T20I against the Windies.

My playing XI : Rohit, Dhawan, KLR, M Pandey, Pant, Kartik, Krunal, Bhuvi, Kuldeep, Bumrah, Chahal pic.twitter.com/tGgeIWsbj3

— Manya (@CSKian716) November 3, 2018

However, when the Indian team entered the field on Sunday, it was Dinesh Karthik who was doning the wicket-keeper’s gloves while Pant played as a batsman.

Twitterati unhappy with Karthik keeping wickets instead of Pant 

This surprising change didn’t go well with the fans who wanted to see the young Pant shoulder the responsibility of keeping the wickets.

Soon after the match started, fans expressed their displeasure on Twitter.

If they want to test rishabh pant as wicket keeper than why dinesh karthik is keeping ? ?@vikrantgupta73 @cricketaakash @BoriaMajumdar @rawatrahul9

— Aabhas Raj (@AabhasRaj7781) November 4, 2018

https://twitter.com/adityakumar480/status/1059076741585485824

https://twitter.com/akshay_kudyar/status/1059078286662221824

you want new wicketkeeper To see in T20 then why Dinesh Karthik do this job where is Pant?? @BCCI @cricketaakash @StarSportsIndia

— Harshil Choksi (@chokshi28) November 4, 2018

@samiprajguru Sir at not including @msdhoni in t20team, they said its time to let @RishabPant777 Keep wickets. And now @DineshKarthik Is keeping the wickets.

— janmejai singhal (@jaisinghal15) November 4, 2018

If @DineshKarthik is keeping.. so why @msdhoni has not selected for T20 squad.
Its been said.. they want to give Chance to @RishabPant777 .
WTF !! @BCCI @imVkohli #INDvsWI

— Misal Raj (@MisalRaj_) November 4, 2018

https://twitter.com/narendra_ti/status/1059069262935994373

Pant made his Test debut against England and then featured in the Test series against Windies. He impressed everyone with his bold approach to batting.

Courtesy of this, he made his ODI debut in the series against Windies and now with selectors dropping MS Dhoni from T20s he was regarded as India’s future wicket-keeper.

On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik has made some appearances in the Indian team in the past but his role was of a batsman but in the absence of Dhoni, he was asked to keep the wickets.

India floor Windies in the 1st T20 international

Meanwhile, Team India registered yet another thumping victory over the visitors. After winning the toss, India elected to bowl first and then picked wickets at regular intervals.

Windies batsmen themselves added to their own misery by indulging in reckless run-outs. On the other hand, Indian bowlers kept the noose tight throughout the innings which meant Windies could only score 109 runs in their 20 overs.

Also watch: Krunal and Pandya get India caps 

In response, India too lost wickets quickly but Dinesh Karthik played a calm and solid inning to arrest the early damage. Debutant Krunal Pandya then scored a quick-fire 21 not out off just 09 balls to take the team home in the 18th over.