Indian wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik is doubtful for India’s next game against Bangladesh in the 20-20 World Cup on Wednesday. Karthik is reportedly suffering from back spasms which forced him to leave the field during the last five overs of the match against South Africa on Sunday.
Karthik’s injury could make way for the other wicketkeeper in the squad Rishabh Pant who has warmed the bench in the first three matches of the World Cup so far. Pant kept wickets from the 16th over till the end of the game against South Africa on Sunday after Karthik was forced to leave the field due to pain.
The extent of severity of the back spasm couldn’t be confirmed but normally it takes anything between three to five days for the pain to heal, if it is a minor one.
“Karthik felt pain in his lower back. We haven’t heard about the severity of his back spasm. The medical team is working to get him fit as heat treatment and massaging helps reduce the discomfort, quickly. So don’t rule him out yet,” a senior Indian Cricket Board official privy to development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Pant has proved his mettle in Tests down under
There have been widespread discussions about including the swashbuckling Rishabh Pant in the playing eleven after the constant failures of KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik in the first three matches. Karthik could only manage to score 1 and 6 off 15 balls against South Africa.
The 37-year-old has been included in the team as a designated finisher but failed to complete the job against Pakistan in India’s first game. He was once again seen struggling to cope with the pace and bounce of the Optus Stadium in Perth against South Africa.
The Indian team management has also faced some flak for keeping an impactful player like Pant out of the squad. In Test matches, Pant has enjoyed stupendous success in Australia where he has scored 1 hundred and 2 scores over 80 in his test career.
