cricketNews

“It’s not like the keeper that we have right now is so good that he can’t be dropped” – Ravi Shastri reveals why India should play KL Rahul as a wicket-keeper in place of KS Bharat in the WTC final

Share the post

India will face Australia in the World Test Championship final. It is a fantastic chance for them to finally win an ICC trophy after waiting so long. It has been ten years since India last won the ICC. While they came close in the first World Test Championship final two years ago, they ultimately fell short. Well, there’s the Indian Premier League to look forward to in the meanwhile, but India won’t waste this chance since it doesn’t come around often.

The majority of India’s Playing XI is a lock, but the wicketkeeper spot is up for grabs. Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat are the two specialist keepers who secured a spot in India’s Test squad in the absence of Rishabh Pant during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with Bharat playing before his younger colleague in all four matches. Nonetheless, he was criticized for his wicketkeeping skill and his inability to score runs.

Advertisement

What did Ravi Shastri say about KL Rahul keeping wickets in the WTC final?

When Bharat dropped a handful of sitters and a few easy stumping chances throughout the series, he received criticism from retired cricketers. So, with his status in question, former India coach Ravi Shastri has endorsed KL Rahul to keep wickets in the WTC final. Rahul, who has been keeping in ODIs, would not have trouble with pacers, according to Shastri, and he will deliver strong batting.

“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 wicket 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,” Shastri told a select group of reporters on the sidelines of Legends League Cricket in Doha.

Advertisement

When batting at No. 5 for India, Rahul was given a shot at wicketkeeper in the ODI series against Bangladesh. He performed well apart from a difficult catch in the first match. Meanwhile, Rahul has a respectable Test batting record in England, with 160 runs scored at the Oval in 2018 and a hundred scored at Lord’s in 2021.

ALSO READ: 6 Players who scored Most Runs in 25 ODIs as Indian Captains

Advertisement
Advertisement

Share the post

Related Articles

Back to top button