Sunil Gavaskar suggests that KL Rahul could be a good wicketkeeper-batter option for India in the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, he emphasizes that Rishabh Pant should be the first-choice pick if he is fit enough to take the field. We all know that how life threatening accident Rishabh Pant had in December 2022.
The recent selection of Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson as the two wicketkeeper-batters in India’s 16-member squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan reflects the absence of Pant, who is still recovering from injuries, and the omission of Rahul from the squad. Gavaskar’s opinion adds an interesting perspective to India’s wicketkeeping choices for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
I will put Rishabh Pant’s name first for the marquee tournament- Sunil Gavaskar
During an interaction on the Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’, Sunil Gavaskar was asked whether he sees KL Rahul playing the middle-order wicketkeeper-batter’s role in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He said,
“I see him (Rahul) as a wicketkeeper as well but I will say one thing before that – if Rishabh Pant is fit on even one leg, he should come into the team because he is a game-changer in every format. If I am the selector, I will put his name first,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
The former India captain feels KL Rahul is an exciting option if Rishabh Pant isn’t available, providing an explanation,
“However, if Rishabh Pant is unavailable and KL Rahul keeps wickets, it will be good because the balance will also get created. Then you have the option to play him as an opener or use him in the middle order as a finisher at No. 5 or No. 6.”
Gavaskar added that the Karnataka player has improved his wicketkeeping skills significantly.
“He is an all-rounder and he has improved his wicketkeeping so much. When he used to keep earlier, he was probably a slightly reluctant wicketkeeper, a keeper you could just manage with, but now he is a proper wicketkeeper,” he elaborated.
KL Rahul has accumulated 2,265 runs in 68 T20I innings at an excellent average of 37.75 and an impressive strike rate of 139.12. However, he has never batted below No. 4 in T20Is. To enhance his chances of making it to India’s T20 World Cup squad, he might need to showcase his batting prowess down the order in the IPL 2024, displaying versatility in his batting role.
All three players are good– Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar was further asked whether IPL 2024 could play a role in deciding between the likes of Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant as India’s preferred wicketkeeper-batter for the T20 World Cup. He responded:
“Competition between players is good. All three players are good. We have seen Jitesh Sharma. He is an impressive striker and finisher. In T20 cricket, wicketkeepers usually stay back and are rarely close to the stumps. So even if you don’t have that much wicketkeeping prowess but have batting and form, you can come in the team,” he replied.
Apart from the mentioned three players (Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant), Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan could also be in contention for the wicketkeeper-batter’s position for the T20 World Cup.
Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan are expected to keep wickets for their respective franchises in IPL 2024. On the flip side, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul might play as specialist batters, considering Pant’s injury and the presence of Nicholas Pooran and Quinton de Kock as wicketkeepers in the Lucknow Super Giants squad. The IPL performances of these players could indeed influence the selectors’ decision for India’s T20 World Cup squad.