Former India head coach, Ravi Shastri has given his opinion on who should be keeping wickets for India in the upcoming World Test Championship final.
According to him, India’s best option for this one-off Test is KL Rahul as he has more experience than the current keeper, KS Bharat.
In the just concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Bharat looked quite inexperienced to play at the highest level for India.
On the other hand, Shastri also feels that Bharat is still wet behind the ears to play Test cricket for the national team.
That’s why, he is favoring KL Rahul very highly and says that he can keep well for India in the WTC.
Meanwhile, India will face Australia for the WTC Final in England from June 7-11.
Says Shastri,
KL Rahul should be keeping. Clear-cut. You don’t have to keep much to the spinners. At No.5 or 6, he can strengthen the batting and can keep wickets too. Of course, he can also keep in Tests because you have to see the all-round strength. It’s not like the ‘keeper that we have right now is so good that he can’t be dropped.’ He is also a newcomer, KS Bharat and he will learn with exposure, but for this one-off big game, you have to weigh all the options.
Adds Shastri,
He (KL) has really done well to keep the selectors interested ahead of the WTC final. Rahul can bat in the middle order- No.5 or 6. In England, you have to generally keep wickets from far behind. You don’t have to keep up to the spinners a lot.
Shastri feels KL Rahul can give depth and an edge to India’s batting lineup
Meanwhile, KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper has effected 22 dismissals in 17 ODIs and five dismissals in eight T20Is.
In the recently-concluded ODI series against Australia, he kept wickets for all three matches which makes him a perfect fit for the WTC final.
Just like current head coach, Rahul Dravid, KL Rahul can give the Indian team and extra depth and edge by keeping for them in the marquee event.
Moreover, Rahul’s Test stats in England have also been great. He has scored 614 runs in 18 games that includes two tons.
However, Rahul’s last Test fifty came back 11 games earlier. That’s why he was dropped after the Delhi Test after receiving harsh criticism from all corners, even from former India pacer, Venkatesh Prasad.
On the other hand, Rahul made a gritty fifty in the first ODI and has shown some signs of coming back in form.
And currently, India will have to opt only for Rahul because they are unwilling to go back to Wriddhiman Saha and nor can Pant recover in time for the mega event.
Additionally, India is also on the hunt for their first ICC Trophy in 10 years ever since MS Dhoni’s side lifted the Champions Trophy back in 2013.
Follow Crickdom on Twitter for more.
