Rishabh Pant’s absence from cricket due to injury has resulted in him being out of several important series, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023. The 25-year-old will even miss the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The Roorkee-born has been known for his agility as a wicketkeeper, taking stunning catches and effective stumpings. He has also been a valuable contributor with the bat in the middle order, making him a significant asset to the team in white-ball cricket.
The ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be hosted by India from October 5 to November 19, 2023.
The Indian team management is closely watching to see who can replace Pant as the wicketkeeper in the upcoming marquee event.
Considering the Asia Cup and the World Cup are not far away, India is expected to take a decision soon. Currently, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and few others are in contention for the wicketkeeper’s role in the ODI team. Each player brings unique qualities to the table.
1. KL Rahul
Senior batter KL Rahul looks the perfect fit to replace injured Pant in India’s middle-order with the 50-over World Cup just a few months away. Following the 2019 World Cup, the 31-year-old batted in the middle-order in a significant number of ODIs and has an impressive record. Rahul has batted at number 5 in 18 ODI innings, averaging 50 with a strike rate of 99.33.
The stylish batter performance in death overs is another reason why the team management trusts him. So far, Rahul has scored 288 runs in the last ten overs at a strike rate of 162.71.
With only 15 dismissals, the Karnataka stalwart averages 48.26 with a healthy strike rate of 90.72 against spinners. With Rahul wearing gloves and batting in the middle-order, India can afford to play an extra batter or a bowler if required.
2. Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson is a proven customer in the cash-rich League. Over the course of his 152-match career, he has scored over 3,500 runs at a strike rate of more than 135. He is best suited as a top-order batter, having opened the batting for India in four T20 Internationals with a strike rate of over 165. Samson has an ODI average of 66 in his brief career.
In the ODI series against South Africa last year, he was one of the consistent performers.
The 28-year-old can be the finisher that India is seeking in the white-ball format. He has excellent first-class numbers and could be a useful long-term investment for the Men in Blue. On several tours, he served as a reserve for the senior team.
3. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan, who provides variation to the batting order and a left-right combination to the action, has performed admirably for the Indian squad and maybe the ideal player for them. The 24-year-old aggressive stroke play and ability to score quickly have piqued the interest of cricket fans across all formats of the game. Furthermore, the Patna-born wicketkeeping abilities have steadily improved over time. The spectacular double century against Bangladesh is enough to demonstrate the left-handed batter’s ODI talent. As a finisher, Kishan can aid Team India in the long run by providing solidity to the middle order.
In difficult situations, the talented southpaw has the capacity to take the game away from the opposition, and his IPL experience will help him acclimate to international standards. Kishan can be an effective replacement for Pant.
4. Jitesh Sharma
Jitesh Sharma’s flamboyant and aggressive hitting style helped him make a name for himself in the recently finished IPL season. The 29-year-old keeping skills are also quite impressive and he can surely give competition to Pant in that aspect. His performances for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the prosperous T20 tournament have put him in contention for a place in the Indian squad.
Jitesh possesses the talent, talent, and experience required to succeed at the international level. The Amravati-born has already demonstrated his worth in the IPL, and he may be an excellent fit for the Indian team.
5. KS Bharat
K.S. Bharat is a very bright prospect. He is a consistent run-scorer in the domestic circuit. The 29-year-old gained massive popularity following his performances in IPL 2021. Bharat was picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the IPL 2021 auction. He rose to fame on the back of his pinch-hitting abilities. The Visakhapatnam-born scored close to 200 runs in 8 matches.
He was roped in by the Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2022 and unfortunately was not given ample match time. His numbers don’t quite do justice to his talent. Bharat has great first-class numbers and could be a great investment for Team India in the future.
Bharat, now part of Gujarat Titans (GT), has traveled with his national team as a reserve player on multiple tours.
