T20 is considered a game of springing surprises and involves manoeuvring of strategies. Being flexible in gameplan is essential since it often helps in catching the opposition off guard.

The Indian team management has failed to come up with such coherent plots in this World Cup resulting in Rishabh Pant being left out of the XI in the three matches so far. The wicketkeeping duties have been left to Dinesh Karthik, who has failed miserably to perform his role as a finisher in the batting order.

There have been growing demands to include Pant in the aftermath of the five-wicket loss to South Africa in Perth. Karthik has so far managed 1 and 6 in his two innings.

There has been a school of thought that Pant can bring in the much-needed left-right combination if he opens with Rohit Sharma but the team management has been loathe to the idea. Rahul Dravid made clear his support for KL Rahul in the opening slot during Tuesday’s media conference in Adelaide and it is highly unlikely that such an option will be explored.

The only way left for Pant to make the team is in place of Karthik. The veteran had been troubled by back spasms in the last match and Dravid said Karthik was shaping up well before Wednesday’s match. He would be assessed on the morning of the match before a final call is taken.

With no previous experience of playing in Australia, Karthik has struggled badly on the fast and bouncy wickets with his footwork. He has also failed to read the situations and his temperament has increasingly come under scrutiny.

Does he have the mindset to bat when the team is five down within the first 10 overs and the need of the hour is to stay at the wicket and rotate the strike? His 6 off 15 deliveries against South Africa exposed his limitations and he failed to build a much-needed partnership with Suryakumar Yadav in the middle overs and attack at the death.

Then in India’s opener against Pakistan, Karthik could have finished the game for India but was out stumped in the thrilling last over.

Pant has been hugely successful in Australian conditions. During the 2018-19 Test series he was India’s second highest run-getter with 350 in seven innings at an average of 58.33, including 159 not out in Sydney.

In the next series Down Under in 2020- 21, Pant was equally impressive, finishing as the top-scorer with 274 runs in five innings at an average of 68.50. This included an 89 not out in the second innings during the deciding Test at the Gabba and a fighting 97 in the second innings in Sydney which enabled India to settle for a draw.

The damage could be beyond repair if Rohit and Dravid continue to ignore his credentials in Adelaide on Wednesday. Pant has shown the clarity in his mind and approach in the past to bat on such surfaces.

There is no guarantee that Pant will succeed but it would be naive to ignore the youngster since he is a proven customer on fast tracks.

Karthik has already been given a long rope. The team management may be left to rue not playing Pant before the knockouts begin.