KL Rahul Is The Likely First Choice In White-Ball Cricket:
After Mahendra Singh Dhoni ‘s international retirement, Rishabh Pant may feel a weight off his shoulders but the immensely talented KL Rahul is the probable first choice for the near future in white-ball cricket, feel three former Indian wicket-keepers. Nayan Mongia, MSK Prasad and Deep Dasgupta all decided that at the moment it would be a two-horse race between Rahul and Pant with Sanju Samson adding a third dimension but staying in fringes a little distantly.
“KL, I think it’s going to be the first choice in 50 overs. Whatever I’ve seen from KL, he wasn’t bad behind the stumps and his batting shape improved in white ball cricket once he started to keep.
“On form, KL is going to be my first choice and then you can look at Rishabh and give him chances,” Mongia, one of India’s finest wicket-keepers, said on Sunday to a leading sports website.
Although Dasgupta has agreed with Mongia, he feels that using Rahul and Pant could be “flexible format” for the team. “Look, I think both can play in the XI in T20s, but given a option, for the time being KL will be my Man in T20s at least.
“But in 50 over format, team managers will be able to speak to him and see he wants to do it long-term before 2023 World Cup and bat at No 5 which is a vital middle-order slot,” Dasgupta, who has covered Indian cricket extensively as a broadcaster in recent years, said. For Prasad, who has been the head of the selection committee recently, he also agrees that KL will have a slight edge but that Rishabh will be in the mix.
“If you’re going through the New Zealand series, the last one we’ve played, KL starts as a first choice and Sanju is there as well, but as a third choice. He ‘s done well and gives that flexibility to play extra batsman or bowler according to conditions.
“But yes, everybody starts from scratch after five months and it will be necessary to have IPL form,” Prasad said. So where does Pant leave? Prasad and Dasgupta believe Dhoni ‘s retirement shoud make it easier for Pant to breathe.
“Don’t forget that constant comparisons with Dhoni must have weighed heavily on his young mind. It doesn’t help getting results with that pressure. So now, he ‘s safe and can express himself in the best possible way. But yes, he still needs to mature a little as a player,” Dasgupta said.
Pant could now be “Rishabh” for Prasad, rather than Mahi Junior. “Over the past few years, Indian cricket has invested in Rishabh Pant. We’ve seen Pant ‘s best and worst in these years. He’s someone who can represent Indian cricket for a long time , given he’s well groomed.
“This IPL will also show where each one stands in terms of form and health, but I understand that before you think about anything else, Rishabh needs to be given a fair go,” Prasad said. However, Mongia feels there is going to be pressure and that is a good thing for young Pant.
“It’s big boots to fill in and rightly so. You don’t get the MS Dhoni’s on a regular basis. But Pant should get his chance and let him prove his mettle. I ‘m sure the team management would give him ample opportunities. “He has talent and now it’s up to him what he’s going to do with the chances,” Mongia said.
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