Ganguly unsure how Pant would fit into India's World Cup squad

Rishabh Pant is definitely "one for the future" but former captain Sourav Ganguly is not sure if the young wicket-keeper 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.

In an interview at the Eden Gardens, Ganguly did 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's 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.

Pant has made a big statement in Tests by scoring centuries in England and Australia but he's yet to make an impact in the ODIs and T20Is.

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 pretty self-selected team."
"World Cup is how you play in the World Cup. It's (IPL) a different tournament. You just play and move on to the World Cup."
"I've been harping for him. But he has to score runs away from home. He's a superb talent. He played superbly in the two T20Is."