The age-old question of who should don the gloves for Team India in T20Is has flared up again, this time with an international twist. Former New Zealand wicketkeeper and respected commentator Ian Smith has thrown his weight firmly behind Rishabh Pant, stating unequivocally that he would choose him over the incumbent Sanju Samson. His comments, made in the wake of India’s T20 World Cup squad announcement, have poured fuel on an already simmering debate among fans and experts alike.
Smith’s core argument is simple yet powerful: in high-stakes T20 cricket, you need a player who can win a game from nowhere, and that player is Rishabh Pant. This perspective cuts to the heart of a critical strategic choice for the Indian selectors—should they prioritize explosive, game-changing potential or reliable, consistent output? Let’s break down this complex and controversial Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson conundrum.
During a recent analysis segment, Ian Smith didn’t mince words. “I’d pick him any day,” Smith said about Pant, directly questioning the Indian team management’s decision to leave him out of the T20 World Cup squad . He went on to highlight Pant’s unique ability to shift the momentum of a game with a single over of batting, a quality he believes is irreplaceable in the modern T20 format.
Smith’s viewpoint carries significant weight. As a former international wicketkeeper himself, he understands the dual pressures of the role intimately. His opinion isn’t just based on statistics; it’s rooted in an understanding of the intangible X-factor that certain players bring to the table—a factor he sees in abundance in Pant but perhaps not as consistently in Samson.
This isn’t a new argument. For years, Indian cricket fans have been split between these two supremely talented wicketkeeper-batters. Both are phenomenal glovemen and destructive batsmen, but their styles and career trajectories are markedly different. The debate often boils down to one central question: what does the team need *right now*?
On one side, you have Pant, the comeback kid whose career was nearly ended by a horrific car accident. His return to international cricket has been nothing short of inspirational. On the other, you have Samson, who has seized his opportunities with both hands, delivering a string of mature and match-winning performances when called upon.
Rishabh Pant’s greatest asset is his fearless, almost chaotic, approach to batting. He doesn’t just score runs; he dismantles bowling attacks. His strike rate in T20Is is a blistering 128+, and he possesses the rare ability to hit sixes at will, even against the best bowlers in the world .
His innings are often high-risk, high-reward affairs. He can get out for a duck, or he can single-handedly chase down a 200+ target. This unpredictability is what makes him so valuable in knockout games where conventional cricket can be too slow. As Ian Smith pointed out, in a World Cup final or a must-win semi-final, you want a player who can create something out of nothing—and that’s Pant’s specialty.
Sanju Samson, by contrast, has built his case on consistency and composure. Since being given a sustained run in the T20I side, he has averaged over 40 with a healthy strike rate, anchoring the innings while still providing the necessary firepower . He’s proven he can bat at No. 4, a crucial position in the modern T20 setup, and build partnerships without losing control.
Samson’s strength lies in his technical soundness and his ability to rotate the strike effectively. He’s less likely to give his wicket away cheaply, which provides a stable platform for the hitters around him. For a team that sometimes struggles with middle-order collapses, Samson’s reliability is a major asset.
As Ian Smith also noted, the role of the wicketkeeper in T20 cricket has evolved dramatically. It’s no longer just about keeping; it’s about being a primary batting weapon. The trend across all top teams is to have the wicketkeeper bat in the top four, making them a central figure in the team’s batting strategy .
This evolution makes the choice between Pant and Samson even more critical. It’s not just about who is the better keeper (both are excellent), but who is the more impactful batter in the specific context of a high-pressure T20 tournament. The ideal candidate needs to combine the aggression of a finisher with the stability of a top-order batter—a near-impossible balance that both players strive for in their own ways.
The official line from the BCCI and the selection committee has been that Pant is still in the process of regaining his peak match fitness and rhythm after his long layoff. While his domestic and IPL performances have been promising, the selectors may have felt that the risk of his aggressive style backfiring in a crucial World Cup game was too high.
They opted for the known quantity of Samson, who has been in the system and performing consistently. It’s a safe, pragmatic choice. However, as Ian Smith’s comments suggest, in a tournament where one magical innings can win you the trophy, playing it safe might not always be the best strategy.
The Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson debate ultimately reflects a deeper philosophical question in team selection: do you build for certainty or for potential? Ian Smith’s vote for Pant is a vote for the latter—for the belief that in the cauldron of a World Cup, you need a player who can produce the extraordinary. Samson offers a rock-solid foundation, but Pant offers the possibility of a miracle. For many, including a former international great like Smith, that’s a gamble worth taking. To explore more on how T20 strategies are shaping global cricket, see our deep dive on [INTERNAL_LINK:t20-cricket-strategy-evolution].
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