IND VS SA: Sunil Gavaskar calls out Pant's decision of sending Axar Patel ahead of Karthik

Rishabh Pant's decisions on the ground in the 2nd T20Is against South Africa that India lost have irked many former cricketers and fans.

In the post-match presentation though, Shreyas Iyer defended Pant's decision and said that it is something that the team had strategised earlier, and going forward in the next game, the team will stick to its decision of sending DK in later overs

However, Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at Rishabh Pant for reserving Dinesh Karthik for the slog overs and sending Axar Patel ahead of him. Explaining that while Karthik is being labeled as a finisher, he could have come in much earlier, Gavaskar said, 'if he would have been sent earlier because he has the ability to work things around, he wouldn't necessarily have to hit sixes right from when he came in'.

After the top-order failed miserably, Pant sent Patel before Karthik when India was struggling at 90/4 in the 13th over. While Axar got out cheaply for just 9 Karthik scored a 21-ball-30 to help India post a respectable 148.

Also Read IND VS SA: Spinners need to come better into the game, says Captain Rishabh Pant