Hyderabad – With coach Rahul Dravid announcing that KL Rahul will play as a specialist batsman in the 5-match Test series against England, discussions have started on who will be the team’s main wicket-keeper. KS Bharat and Dhruv Jural are the wicket keepers of the team. Bharat, who has played only 5 Test matches, has scored 129 runs at an average of 18.42. This is the Test series debut for Dhruv Jurel.
Keeperless time
After MS Dhoni retired from Test cricket in 2015, the selectors have not been able to find a consistent wicket keeper. Wriddhiman Saha was the first choice to replace Dhoni. Despite being a good wicket keeper, Saha, who is performing only average in batting, was slowly shunned by the selectors. Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik etc came and went but could not keep their place in the team. The crisis worsened again when Rishabh Pant, who came after him, was injured in a car accident and left the team. Part-time wicketkeeper KL Rahul was given this role but he did not perform as expected. With this, the selectors alternately tried Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat.
BHARAT VS JURAL
Even though he is average in batting, Bharath has 287 catches and 33 stumpings in 91 first-class matches and has proved to be an excellent wicket-keeper on Indian pitches. Bharat’s chances are also boosted by his century in the warm-up match against England Lions. With only 15 first-class matches, Jurel has 34 catches and 2 stumpings to his credit.
But if they have a long-term plan in mind, the selectors will try the 23-year-old Jural instead of the 30-year-old Bharat.
‘Rahul was taken in the team as a specialist batsman. We were clear about this at the time of selection. He performed well in South Africa. But considering the Indian pitches and the 5-match series, one of Bharat-Jural will be the wicket-keeper’ – Indian coach Rahul Dravid
English Summary:
Bharat, Rahul or Jurel – who will keep wicket for India in the England Tests
2024-01-24 04:06:50
#Rahul #wicketkeeper #England #Bharat #Dhruv #Jural #substitutes
