Ganguly uncertain about Pant place in WC squad

Kolkata, March 2: Rishabh Pant is definitely one for the future but former captain Sourav Ganguly is not sure if the young wicketkeeper-batsman can fit into India's World Cup squad.

Pant has been picked ahead of Dinesh Karthik for the five-match ODI series against Australia, India's last 50-over engagement before the mega event in England.

Ganguly does not seem too convinced on how Pant, who has played only three ODIs, would fit into India's World Cup squad.

"He has to fit in. I don't know whether he would be able to fit in at this moment, so it depends. But he is obviously a player for the future," Ganguly said about Pant, who has just played three ODIs all against the West Indies in India last year.

Playing as a special batsman, Pant's scores read 4, 40 not out and 28 in the 1-2 loss in the T20Is in New Zealand last month, while in the recently-concluded two-Twenty20 series against Australia he made 3 and 1.

India skipper Virat Kohli has insisted on giving him more match time with the five-ODI series beginning in Hyderabad on Saturday.

"Karthik is not part of the ODI squad then obviously they are not thinking him as an option. It depends on what the selectors want," said Ganguly.

"India are a very good side. It's a very strong side. They are a pretty much self-selected team. I don't see too many changes in the squad. Bowling is good in (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar). Batting picks itself. Spinners (Yuzvendra) Chahal and Kuldeep (Yadav). They are a pretty self-selected team."

Kohli may have cautioned his players against picking up bad habits during the upcoming Indian Premier League but the former captain said Indian players are too good and will adjust to the 50-over format easily.