After winning the Test series against England by 3–1, Team India is eying to outshine the visitors in the T20 series as well. Meanwhile, the hosts are busy making their squad selection efficacious and strong.
As far as wicketkeeping is concerned, Team India has three options—Rishabh Pant, K.L. Rahul, and Ishaan Kishan. Among them, Rishabh Pant has proved himself by improving his wicket-keeping skills and has also won the hearts of cricket lovers by performing brilliantly with his bat, the greatest feature of his batting being his consistency. He performed against Australia and England with class.
In such a situation, questions are also being raised as to why Pant should not be restricted to Test cricket only, however, he has been selected in the T20 team. On the other hand, KL Rahul, besides being a good batsman, has also impressed the critics and cricket lovers with his wicketkeeping skills in white-ball cricket. The biggest dilemma that the team management will face is as to who should be included in the team, and whom to release. Nevertheless, both of them can be included in the playing eleven, and if that be the case, Pant must take over the responsibility of wicketkeeping. We should not forget that whenever Rahul has got an opportunity, he never let his guard down, and has performed with persistence.
Team India also includes another wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan, who is very talented and has impressed everyone by batting well in the last IPL. Ishan and Pant have played together during the Under-19 days. However, it is too early to say anything about Ishan at the moment. It would be appropriate to comment on his performance only when he gets a chance, and I think he might have to wait for that.
Test player Wriddhiman Saha, despite being among the best wicketkeepers in the world, is sitting out on the bench. Many critics raise the question that when he has to sit outside, why not include a young wicketkeeper in the Test team instead. However, in my view, if Pant gets injured, India needs a commendable standby option, and Saha should be given the credit for maintaining his niche and fitness at the age of 35.
India should keep a close watch on the performance of the wicketkeepers in the A team, but for the moment, we must trust Saha’s capabilities as a Test cricketer, and rather than excluding him from tours, he should be included in the back-up-bench.
The author has played 6 Tests and 12 ODIs as a wicketkeeper batsman for Team India. Views expressed are his personal.