Team India had to make a choice between Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik and ultimately the southpaw missed out on the playing XI for their 2022 Asia Cup opener against Pakistan.Pant's match-winning ability was probably never in doubt when it came to the longer formats. However, he has pretty modest numbers in T20Is despite being backed by the management for over 50 games.But with the return of big guns like KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, the southpaw couldn't find a place in India's middle-order. This should give Karthik some confidence as his fairytale return to international cricket as a finisher continues.Fans on Twitter gave mixed reactions to the decision to drop Rishabh Pant. Some felt that the right call was made given that Karthik was a specialist finisher, while others claimed that it was harsh on a match-winner like Pant to be dropped.Here are some of the reactions:saurav764@saurav764The value of ‘X’ in #RishabhPant X factor is very low to find a place in playing 11 … very harsh..2The value of ‘X’ in #RishabhPant X factor is very low to find a place in playing 11 … very harsh..J 🇮🇳@jaynildaveDK playing and pant not playing, Indian fans #INDvsPAK4619DK playing and pant not playing, Indian fans #INDvsPAK https://t.co/rS2aFIEettBhawana@bhawnakohli5Dinesh Kartik is playing and Rishabh Pant misses out. Woah, that’s some decision.76127Dinesh Kartik is playing and Rishabh Pant misses out. Woah, that’s some decision.Prasenjit Dey@CricPrasenThere was never going to be any room for Rishabh Pant in that batting unit once the likes of Kohli and Rahul walked in. You can't drop SKY and Karthik. They have literally made those middle-order and late finishing roles their own. #INDvPAK | #AsiaCup2022322There was never going to be any room for Rishabh Pant in that batting unit once the likes of Kohli and Rahul walked in. You can't drop SKY and Karthik. They have literally made those middle-order and late finishing roles their own. #INDvPAK | #AsiaCup2022Pricviz@PC462301Pant droppedMixed feelings3Pant droppedMixed feelingshttps://t.co/PzLiHcLe9FJay@bhavsarJ2_0Indian Team without Rishabh Pant is literally an attire without lower garments. #RishabhPant #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2022111Indian Team without Rishabh Pant is literally an attire without lower garments. #RishabhPant #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2022Shubh Aggarwal@shubh_chintakSurprised that DK haa been picked in the DK v Pant bout #INDvPAK9Surprised that DK haa been picked in the DK v Pant bout 😲 #INDvPAKVenkata Krishna B@venkatatweetsDK ahead of Rishabh Pant. Definitely didn't see that coming, but a very good move.1299DK ahead of Rishabh Pant. Definitely didn't see that coming, but a very good move.Avni@Avni_KLRDK keeping karega I hope we don't miss Pant the wicketkeeper 9DK keeping karega 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭I hope we don't miss Pant the wicketkeeper 😓TukTuk Academy@TukTuk_AcademyBCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIWho the heck given you authority to drop our T20i format academy legend Rishabh Pant? #INDvPAK68849BCCCCCIIIIIIIIIII😡😡😡😡Who the heck given you authority to drop our T20i format academy legend Rishabh Pant?😤 #INDvPAKSoorya Sesha@sooryasesha7Big big call on Pant. He may not have the best numbers against left-arm spin but that's largely down to perishing on attack mode than lack of skill. Even SKY, who's the best player of spin in the team, has a weakness against SLA. Needed that variety #AsiaCup2022 #INDvPAK6Big big call on Pant. He may not have the best numbers against left-arm spin but that's largely down to perishing on attack mode than lack of skill. Even SKY, who's the best player of spin in the team, has a weakness against SLA. Needed that variety #AsiaCup2022 #INDvPAKArcher@poserarcherYay finally good team. No pant means no batting weak link. Let's go India191Yay finally good team. No pant means no batting weak link. Let's go IndiaFreddie Wilde@fwildecricketLast year in the WC India’s RHs were exposed by NZ & Pak’s right-to-left spin. India have injected more intent into their batting since then but dropping Pant means they have no frontline LH in their XI. Jadeja may be promoted but is weak v spin. Huge tactical call. #AsiaCup202227645Last year in the WC India’s RHs were exposed by NZ & Pak’s right-to-left spin. India have injected more intent into their batting since then but dropping Pant means they have no frontline LH in their XI. Jadeja may be promoted but is weak v spin. Huge tactical call. #AsiaCup2022Ayush™ 🇮🇳🚩@vkkings007Rishab pant today #AsiaCup2022 #INDvPAK Pant fan assemble now81Rishab pant today 😢#AsiaCup2022 #INDvPAK Pant fan assemble now https://t.co/bvT3SNpiu0Aayusha_45@ayusha_rohitianGood decision to go with Dk IMO. Jaddu can be promoted if wicket falls early.Sanju & shreyas fans,khush toh bahut hoge tum twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns…Johns.@CricCrazyJohnsIndia X1: Rohit, Rahul, Kohli, Sky, Hardik, Karthik, Jadeja, Bhuvi, Avesh, Chahal, Arshdeep.131India X1: Rohit, Rahul, Kohli, Sky, Hardik, Karthik, Jadeja, Bhuvi, Avesh, Chahal, Arshdeep.Good decision to go with Dk IMO. Jaddu can be promoted if wicket falls early.Sanju & shreyas fans,khush toh bahut hoge tum😭😂 twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns…Weirdly_Gripping@WeirdlyGrippingOhk. So It's DK for Pant & that's pathetic call tbvh. Pant not only a LHB in MO but also a player who brings intimidation factor with him.When team is under, he's the only to be trusted. If they were to drop him, he should've been dropped in WI series only.211Ohk. So It's DK for Pant & that's pathetic call tbvh. Pant not only a LHB in MO but also a player who brings intimidation factor with him.When team is under, he's the only to be trusted. If they were to drop him, he should've been dropped in WI series only.Gurkirat Singh Gill@gurkiratsgillDidn't expect Pant to be dropped. Would have preferred for India to drop Jadeja and take the risk with Hardik as a 5th bowler only. But somewhere, Pant has himself to blame for this.24015Didn't expect Pant to be dropped. Would have preferred for India to drop Jadeja and take the risk with Hardik as a 5th bowler only. But somewhere, Pant has himself to blame for this.India could get help of the conditions after winning the tossThere is a nice covering of grass on the surface at the Dubai International Stadium and captain Rohit Sharma had absolutely no hesitation in bowling first. As seen in the game on Saturday, Afghanistan's new-ball bowlers were able to generate swing and late movement.With the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh both capable of swinging the ball with accuracy, the Men in Blue might fancy their chances of making early inroads in the Pakistan batting line-up.The Men in Green will hope for a comeback after losing skipper Babar Azam early on.Lineups:Pakistan XI: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz DahaniIndia XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal