Saba Karim, the former India cricketer and ex-member of the senior selection committee, said that he would prefer to have Rishabh Pant in India's playing eleven for Asia Cup over Dinesh Karthik, citing the x-factor provided by the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter.

With Virat Kohli and KL Rahul set to return to India's playing eleven ahead of their Asia Cup campaign opener against Pakistan on Sunday, it means that there is only one batting slot left for the wicketkeeper, implying a toss-up between Pant and Karthik.