Race for wicketkeeper’s slot gets hotter in runup to T20 World Cup

Bengaluru: Workload administration be damned, the massive boys have come to the get together, and it has turned an already-engaging cleaning soap opera right into a fiery actuality present. 

Right here’s the easy sufficient plot: India are headed to the T20 World Cup in a few months, and whereas the main target is extra on how Virat Kohli and, to an extent, Rohit Sharma carry out to stay in competition for a spot within the World Cup squad, it’s in truth the race for the wicketkeeper’s slot that has develop into spicier. 

The hats within the ring have these names stamped on them: Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

The percentages of Rahul and Pant, who’re returning to motion after extreme accidents, protecting this IPL had the World Cup not been on the horizon have been slim to none, so you’ll be able to see virtually a way of desperation in them.

The identical is writ on the faces of the three others, however the actual quandary for the administration is that this: ‘Can we take ’keepers who’ve nearly recovered from an damage solely to see him break down once more on overseas shores, or reward those who’re promising?’ That is assuming they decide a minimum of two wicketekeepers for the marquee occasion. 

Current historical past will present that selectors would take the previous stance as they appear to again expertise and consistency given the priority of choosing Rahul or the injury-prone all-rounder Hardik Pandya.     

Rahul has had six separate accidents within the final three years. Pant was in a position to bounce again to taking part in worldwide cricket after 15 months of almost dropping his life. 

Indian cricket has had a long-standing hassle with ’keepers throughout codecs. It’s a conundrum which has repeatedly infuriated the administration because the format-by-format exit of MS Dhoni, however there was no like-for-like substitute for the person with the Midas Contact. 

Whereas it’s unlikely that the Dhoni-shaped void will ever be crammed, Indian cricket has a plethora of more-than-impressive candidates to get the job executed… after which they go forward and get injured (or cite psychological well being considerations) to depart the door open for another person to look shiny, presentable, promising.

Frankly, had Pant not gone via a life-altering accident over 15 months in the past, this piece wouldn’t have seen the sunshine of day as a result of the southpaw was the behind-the-stumps future throughout codecs. 

As Pant’s harrowing story performed out from one gurney to a different, Rahul got here alongside and did a good sufficient job, together with on the 50-over World Cup final yr, however then the Bengalurean picked up yet one more damage. 

With these two massive boys out of the dialog for a short bit, Kishan, Samson and Jitesh walked onto the set. 

Of the three, Kishan was the one with the bulk votes till he capitulated his fast future by being ambiguous together with his intentions whereas utilizing psychological well being as a crutch. Naturally, that didn’t sit nicely with the administration, and so he assumes the bottom bargaining energy at this level. 

Then there are Samson and Jitesh. 

Not often does Samson get to be the favorite however on this battle of two, he has the higher hand due to the standard and quantity of his work. Ought to even his newest innings (82 from 52 balls towards Lucknow Tremendous Giants) from a day in the past be thought of, you’ll see why the administration will likely be hard-pressed to maintain his identify within the dialog. 

Jitesh isn’t spectacular however the 30-year-old has managed to impress with the bat within the 9 T20Is he had performed within the final six months. 

However, the factor is {that a} keeper’s negotiating capability comes together with his skill to bat moderately than what he can do behind the stumps. Mediocrity gained’t minimize it, however you may get away with being slightly higher than that so long as you’ll be able to bat out of your pores and skin. 

In that case, Jitesh has solely provided glimpses of his expertise as a batter so he slides down, however above Kishan, on the top-five checklist which is ready so as of potential choice. By that, Samson will likely be third in line.

That leaves us with Rahul and Pant. It gained’t be a straightforward determination to make provided that each the cricketers are getting back from accidents of a extreme nature, however their pedigree precedes them so they’ll naturally earn extra dialog time amongst selectors.