Dinesh Karthik in Post Match Press Conference
The rain curtailed game in Nagpur proved to be a cracker for the large audience who came to cheer for the Indian team. Due to the wet outfield, the game was reduced to 8-over a side and both teams made changes according to the demand of the situation. After winning the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma not only opted to bowl first but also made a big announcement of playing Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav.
Deciding to play Rishabh Pant as the wicket-keeper batsman in the second T20I against Australia raised some eyebrows and once again twitter was flooded with questions over why Rishabh Pant was picked in the playing XI. Interestingly, the fans didn't have to wait much to have their answer.
In the post match press conference, Dinesh Karthik, who smashed match-winning 10 off 2 balls answered the question of journalist who asked why Rishabh Pant was picked in the playing XI against Australia in second T20I in Nagpur.
Here's what DK said
Dinesh Karthik said, "In a rain-curtailed game like this (8 over), the captain had the luxury to play just 4 bowlers with Hardik Pandya being the fifth bowler allowed Captain and Coach to strengthen the batting and fit quality batter like Rishabh Pant in playing XI."
After the second game in Nagpur, the series is level at 1-1 with final game set to be played in Hyderabad on Sunday. The teams will be travelling to Hyderabad on 24th September.
Post series against Australia, India will play 3 T20I series against South Africa which starts on 28th September 2022. The series against South Africa will be India's last bi-lateral series before all-important T20 World Cup which is scheduled to be played in Australia from 16th October 2022.