The Indian cricket team has already kickstarted their preparation for the ODI World Cup 2023, which will take place at home. While all the players are hustling hard to fix their spot for the marquee tournament. Amidst all this, ‘the role of the wicketkeeper’ has become one of the biggest topics of discussion and debate. Team India will have to pick between Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, with Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan among the back-ups.
Rishabh Pant, who was initially a part of the Indian squad currently taking on Bangladesh in the ongoing 3-match ODI series, was released moments before the series started. Surprisingly, KL Rahul, who is usually seen opening the innings for team India, was seen batting down the order at number 5, with veteran Shikhar Dhawan opening the innings with captain Rohit Sharma.
Meanwhile, speaking to Sony Sports, during the 1st ODI between India and Bangladesh, legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar backed Rahul for the no.5 spot. Gavaskar hailed him as an all-rounder and stated that Rahul can help team India by playing one extra bowler as he can also keep wickets.
Sunil Gavaskar also said that Pant has been India’s wicketkeeping choice in the 50-over game due to Rahul’s absence from the format. Gavaskar feels that Rahul’s ability to bat at any position in the playing XI can bring stability to the Indian side. He said:
‘”He has been batting for India at No.5 with Dhawan and Rohit Sharma opening the batting most of the time and Virat Kohli at No.3. He has been batting at No.5 for a while now. Maybe that is the position that he is looking to consolidate. What that does is it gives India the extra option. If you have somebody as a middle-order option who can keep wickets then you can look at taking another bowler,”
He added: “I call him an all-rounder because he can keep wickets, he can open the batting and can bat at No.5. KL Rahul is an all-rounder as far as I am concerned. And someone like him with the kind of experience he has and the range of shots he has, he is the kind of finisher you want at No.5 or 6,”
It has to be noted, that for the past few months Rishabh Pant has been the first wicketkeeping choice for the Indian cricket team. In 30 ODIs, Rishabh Pant scored 865 runs at an average of 34.6 with 1 century and 5 half-centuries. On the other hand, KL Rahul has scored 1,738 runs at an average of 45.74 with five centuries and 11 half-centuries.
