'You want to pick a guy who is in form' - Steyn draws comparison between Karthik and Pant

In the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is playing under Rishabh Pant. The 37-year-old is making his comeback to the national side after being out for almost three years. 

Though Pant and Karthik are playing together, it is no secret that they will be fighting with each other for a spot in the playing XI in the coming T20 World Cup. There is no doubt that Rishabh will be the first-choice keeper for India in the marquee ICC event. However, it will be hard for the selectors to look past Karthik following his exploits against Proteas.

Batting for India at number six in the ongoing series, Karthik registered his first T20I half-century on Friday. The wicketkeeper hammered 55 runs off just 27 balls during the fourth T20 International to help India win a crucial game by 82 runs. In his comeback series, Karthik has so far scored 92 runs at a strike rate of 158.62 and an average of 46.00. 

Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, is struggling with his form. The stand-in skipper has managed to score only 57 runs at a poor average of 14.25 and a strike rate of 105.56. Former South African seamer Dale Steyn drew comparisons between the two players following the fourth T20I.

Steyn believes that Pant has been making the same mistake in all the games and has failed to live up to his reputation. As per the legendary pacer, Dinesh Karthik is a player who should be among the first ones to be selected in the Indian squad for the World Cup. 

"Pant has had four opportunities in this series, where he seems to be making the same mistakes. Also, you think that good players learn from their mistakes, he has not. DK has just come out every single time and shown what a class player he is. If you want to win the World Cup, you want to pick a guy who is in form. 

“There are guys who team will pick on reputation, but DK is in such fantastic form, if he continues this form, he is going to be one of the first names written down on the plane when India tours for the World Cup later this year," Steyn said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo's 'T20 Time Out'.

Dale Steyn seemed highly impressed with Karthik as he heaped praises on the batter. The Proteas veteran lauded the 37-year-old for his variety of shots and the composure on the field. 

"DK has been in phenomenal form. This year, he is getting better and better. He has the wicketkeeper mentality, he reads the game really well, he knows and understands what bowlers are trying to do and he backs it up with very good skill. He reverse sweeps, sweeps, laps. 

“They are shots being played by somebody who reads and understands the game, understands what the bowler is going to bowl when before he runs up to bowl. He does it so well, he attacks the first and last ball of the over, he puts the bowlers under pressure on ball one, and then the guys, they don't really have an answer,” Dale Steyn concluded.