From Selectors to Fans, 4 Wicket-keepers will be on the Radar in the Duleep Trophy

The upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024 series will be crucial for many Indian team players, especially the wicketkeeper’s unit. The series will cement the position of a few and some will be eyeing a comeback to the national side. The most competitive spot will be for wicketkeeping as India has plenty of good options.

Let’s have a look at the concerns related to the wicketkeeper who will be in contention:

What does the Duleep Trophy mean for Rishabh Pant?

Highly destructive and can take the game away from the opposition in a session or two. His fearless approach won India many games in test matches especially in foreign conditions. His ability to take on the bowlers makes him dangerous and a strong contender for the spot. Being a designated wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant will be looking to make a statement in this test series after his unfortunate accident.

Rishabh Pant was one of the guaranteed players for India in the test before his horrific accident in 2022. It took him over a year to recover, gain his fitness, and make a comeback in the IPL. Since he is fully fit, it would be interesting to see his approach in the Duleep Trophy.

KL Rahul: A Designated Wicketkeeper Batsman or Pure Batter

One of the most talented, classy, and prolific batsmen who is rated highly among the Indian players. Having cemented his place as a middle-order batsman in the latter phase of his career, Rahul will try to cement his place as a middle-order batter in tests as well. We have seen numerous times his keeping skills and the reflexes behind the wicket that make him one of the top contenders for the spot.

KL Rahul’s ability to keep wickets earned him the spot during the South Africa Test series. But if BCCI will be interested in going with him as a wicketkeeper-batsman or pure batter would be interesting to see. Not being put in the category of wicketkeeper in the Duleep Trophy has surely made things clear for Rahul and Indian fans. It points out that BCCI sees him as a proper batter rather than a wicketkeeper-batsman and he is likely to be selected based on pure batter.

Recently, KL Rahul had a good run in the Test format but due to an injury, Dhruv Jurel was his replacement.

Will Dhruv Jurel be an Unfortunate Exclusion?

His performances in domestic cricket especially with tailenders and KL Rahul’s injury led him to a place in the test lineup during the England series. His ability to control the innings and play accordingly makes him a suitable candidate for the wicketkeeper-batsman spot. We saw his performance in the England series where he showed glimpses of his potential to control and accelerate the innings when needed.

It would be interesting to see if selectors retain their faith in Jurel after his brilliance in the England series. With Rahul and Pant coming, it will be a tough chance for Jurel to be picked in the squad. However, if Rahul plays as a pure batsman Jurel should be an automatic inclusion in the team.

Ishan Kishan and Duleep Trophy: A Curious Case

An underrated batsman who loves to play aggressive cricket at the top of the order. Recently dropped from the central contract list, Ishan Kishan will be eagerly waiting for this series to make a statement. His aggressive approach and ability to attack the spinners make him an ideal suit in the home conditions and Asian conditions.

Ishan Kishan Test selection scenario emerged due to the sudden unavailability of Rishabh Pant, a player with a similar mindset and gameplay was the best possible replacement available. Ishan Kishan’s recent inclusion in the Duleep Trophy has opened the wicketkeeper-batsman slot. Having lost the trust of BCCI and dropped from the central contract over some guidelines subject, Ishan has to perform outstandingly in this tournament to get the selectors’ attention.

However, it won’t be an easy task with the kind of bowling attack each team has and not playing regularly for the majority of the year. But will selectors go for him based on Duleep Trophy performances? It all depends on them, but surely it will be interesting to see the whole saga.

Conclusion:

However, there is also a string of doubt about Pant’s selection in the team since Jurel and Rahul have done reasonably well in his absence. Hence, the Duleep Trophy becomes an important tournament for Rishabh Pant to put forth his case and show he is still as good as he was earlier.

The question also arises, what if he fails? Will selectors go ahead with him? Will he feature again in the whites for India? His form in the recently concluded IPL showed that he has not lost any bit of touch and needs some game time. The selectors would give him a chance to prove himself again on the big stage.

The wicketkeeper-batsman slots and Duleep Trophy will be an interesting story for the fans and selectors to follow for the upcoming India vs Bangladesh series.