Indian fans not amused with Pant's selection over Suryakumar Yadav

An unfortunate injury to Shreyas Iyer meant that India had to make a forced change in the playing XI for the 2nd ODI. Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant were the two prime contenders to replace Iyer and the Indian skipper went with the latter. Pant’s inclusion in the playing XI has got the Indian fans wondering as to why the southpaw was preferred over Suryakumar Yadav. The 30 year old batsman from Mumbai made a stellar debut in the T20I series against England and has a decent record in List A cricket with an average of 37.5. Pant too has been in fine form plus he’s a genuine wicketkeeper which may have prompted India to go ahead with him. Whatever the reason may be, some Indian fans were not happy with this decision and expressed their disappointment on Twitter. 

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Why Rishabh Pant in place of Shreyas Iyer ? Why not play a pure batsman like Surya Kumar Yadav, Shubhman Gill or Ishan Kishan ? Just asking. #ENGvIND @BCCI — Chuman Das (@chumandas) March 26, 2021

Why Rishabh pant over SKY ....? — Ambed Gaurav (@AmbedGaurav) March 26, 2021

This Indian Management is Absolute Dumb!

If U have invested in KL Rahul for keeping, Why will Rishabh Pant keep the wickets suddenly?

Let Rishabh play as a replacement for Shreyas Iyer only, Once Iyer is back, It is his Deserving place to again take over. Will KL again Keep then? — Aditya Pandey (@Tweet_by_Aditya) March 26, 2021

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#SKY Is not in the squad.....@imVkohli i like you but this was not a decision to be made....@RishabhPant17 has played a lot of odi cricket..but we want to see surya's perfomance as well.....he's(rishabh pant) really a good cricketer. But you always choose your favourite.... — Vikrambharara (@Vikrambharara1) March 26, 2021

Ah.... Tough to be KL Rahul. Did really well batting at 5 and keeping wickets. Now he'll again have to change his batting position and give up wk role for Pant. Have to feel for him. #INDvEND #KLRahul #RishabhPant — Shashi Preetham (@spg0319) March 26, 2021

Ah.... Tough to be KL Rahul. Did really well batting at 5 and keeping wickets. Now he'll again have to change his batting position and give up wk role for Pant. Have to feel for him. #INDvEND #KLRahul #RishabhPant — Shashi Preetham (@spg0319) March 26, 2021

After a below par T20I series with the bat, Rahul stroked a brilliant 62* in the 1st game. In the 2nd ODI, he’s batting on 50 at the time of writing. With Rahul back in form and Suryakumar Yadav waiting in the dugout, Rishabh Pant will be under pressure to deliver. 

England, on the other hand, made three changes in the playing XI. Liam Livingstone and Dawid Malan replaced the injured duo of Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings while England rested Mark Wood and brought in Reece Topley in place of the pacer.