Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has identified Rishabh Pant as the “wildcard” player ahead of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah for the T20 World Cup final, where Rohit Sharma will lead India against South Africa. Pant’s return to cricket after a life-threatening accident in December 2022 has been an inspiring journey. Leading Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, his standout performances earned him a spot in India’s 15-player squad for the tournament.
Manjrekar highlighted Pant’s impact, especially his reverse scoop for a six against Ireland, showcasing his match-winning abilities. Looking ahead to the final, Manjrekar named Pant as the player to watch, anticipating a defining performance from him.
With Kohli moving to open alongside Sharma, Pant has thrived at number three, scoring 171 runs in seven matches at an average of 28.50 and a strike rate of 129.54. The Indian team, led by head coach Rahul Dravid and Rohit, aims to break their World Cup trophy drought, having reached their third ICC final in a year.
Reflecting on the tournament, Manjrekar acknowledged India and Australia as the top teams, but noted Australia’s defeat to Afghanistan as crucial. He emphasized that in a competitive format like T20, a single bad day can impact heavily, leading to Australia’s elimination despite being one of the strongest sides.
South Africa, after defeating Afghanistan in the semi-final, will face India in the final at Kensington Oval, with a reserve day scheduled in case of rain affecting play.