'Rishabh can wait'- Gambhir backs Karthik over Pant for Trent Bridge Test

First-choice keeper Wriddhiman Saha's untimely injury prompted the tourists to go with Karthik for the Test series against England, but the 33-year old has averaged just 5.25 in four innings thus far with the bat.

20-year old left-handed wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant is a hugely exciting prospect in Indian cricket, but despite many calling for his inclusion for the Trent Bridge Test after going 2-0 down in the series, Gambhir believes that Karthik deserves a fair crack of the whip.

“There will always be a temptation ]to play Pant]. I still feel that Dinesh Karthik is at that stage of his career, it’s now or never. So you got to always give someone an extra Test match than one lesser. People would be expecting for him to deliver with the amount of comebacks he’s made but those conditions are tough,” he said to Times of India.

Pant impressed in the recent matches for India A against England Lions, and with a first-class average of 54.5, he is a candidate to be India's long-term keeper. Karthik has spent the majority of his international career behind MS Dhoni in the pecking order, and it would be unfortunate from his perspective should he lose his place so soon after taking the reins behind the stumps.

Whether India opt for youth or experience in the third Test remains to be seen, but Gambhir is concerned that Karthik might not have the opportunity to prove himself again, while Pant has a long career ahead of him to force his way into the side.

“If you don’t give him an opportunity in the next Test match or one more after that, we might never see him again. Rishabh can wait. He has a lot of years ahead of him. Because six innings, to be honest, can give you a better idea where the batter is."