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India’s biggest conundrum ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 is the selection of a solid wicketkeeper batter who can add some quick runs with the bat lower down the order along with his swift glovework behind the stumps. The front-runner for the position seems to be the 30-year-old Jitesh Sharma currently who has played some good cameos in his short career of nine matches so far along with some decent work with the gloves behind the stumps
However, the competition is expected to heat up for the spot in the coming months as according to India’s head coach Rahul Dravid, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are all in the mix for the much-coveted spot. Notably, Kishan was a part of India’s squad for all three formats on the recent tour to South Africa but he pulled out of the tour and flew to Dubai citing mental fatigue.
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“We’ve got quite a few keeping options. We saw a couple of guys in this series, whether it is Sanju, or Jitesh. You speak about Rahul, there is Ishan, Rishabh… all of them are in the mix. We just have to see how things pan out in the course of next few months and then we can take a call what’s the best way to go,” said Dravid after India’s thrilling win in the final T20I in Bengaluru.
Notably, widespread reports were claiming that Kishan had not been selected for the Afghanistan T20I series on disciplinary grounds. However, coach Dravid quashed all the rumours and revealed that the Patna-born cricketer was unavailable for selection.
The mystery around Kishan further grew as he didn’t even feature in the Ranji games for Jharkhand and wasn’t even selected in the squad for the first two Tests against England with Dhruv Jurel earning his maiden call-up to the Indian side to fill the wicketkeeper’s place.
Meanwhile, Pant and Rahul can also break into the World Cup squad on the back of some solid performances in the first half of the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2024. Rahul hasn’t been a part of the T20I team ever since India’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2022 following a humiliating ten-wicket loss against England in the second semi-final.
Also Read: ‘No, Ishan hasn’t contacted us’ – JSCA Secy on Ishan Kishan’s Ranji Trophy inclusion
Rishabh Pant to make his comeback in IPL 2024
On the other hand, Pant has been going through rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru ever since his near-fatal car crash on December 30, 2022. However, there’s a big question mark on his wicketkeeping fitness which will further get cleared once he marks his return on the pitch in IPL 2024.
With just five months to go for the T20 World Cup 2024, the selectors will have a huge headache of selecting the best 15-member squad out of the large talent pool in the country.
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