Former Team India opener makes bold claim on India’s wicketkeeping woes

In the lead-up to the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar predicts fierce competition for the vacant wicketkeeper post. India will play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan following their tour of South Africa.

India, the 2007 World Cup winners, will play Afghanistan in their last Twenty20 series before the next one. Later in the year in June, the United States and the West Indies are  to going co-host the competition.

Regarding the lineup, Sunil Gavaskar stated on Star Sports’ Game Plan programme that he would encourage Rishabh Pant to rejoin the Indian team.

Pant is anticipated to play in the IPL in 2024 after suffering injuries in an accident. Gavaskar gave Pant the benefit of the doubt when discussing KL Rahul’s potential for the T20 World Cup as a middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper seeing him as an essential component for Rohit Sharma’s squad.

Sunil Gavaskar said, “I see Rahul as a wicketkeeper as well, but I will say one thing before that – if Rishabh Pant is fit on even one leg, he should come in the team because he is a game-changer in every format. If I am the selector, I will put his name first.”

“He is an impressive striker and finisher” : Sunil Gavaskar

‘All-rounder’ Rahul has become a better wicketkeeper, according to Gavaskar. Gavaskar claims that when Rahul was first assigned to take wickets for Team India, he was a “reluctant wicketkeeper.” Gavaskar declined to exclude off wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma out of the three-horse race. He said this when asked if the 2024 Indian Premier League season may resolve India’s wicket keeper controversy heading into the World Cup.

The former Team India opener said, “Competition between players is good. All three players are good. We have seen Jitesh Sharma. He is an impressive striker and finisher. In T20 cricket, wicketkeepers usually stay back and are rarely close to the stumps. So even if you don’t have that much wicketkeeping prowess but have batting and form, you can come in the team.”