MUMBAI:
The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off last month and has served up some excellent cricket. The tournament has added significance this season thanks to the T20 World Cup immediately following it afterwards.
One of India’s most pertinent selection questions is the composition of the batting order, including deciding who should keep wickets for the Men in Blue. The likes of Rishabh Pant, Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson are all in the race for a spot on the plane to the USA and West Indies this June.
Who will be India’s wicket-keeper at 2024 T20 World Cup? Rishabh Pant emerging as leading contender over the likes of Sanju Samson
The latest news suggests that Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant could be the frontrunner for that spot. The left-hander recently returned from over a year out through injury in this year’s IPL, and has performed admirably so far.
According to a report on Tuesday from Cricinfo, “the think-tank is believed to be convinced that he is ready for international action” and that the only way is he left out is if he registers “abysmally low scores” for the rest of the IPL.
Pant has scored 153 runs in five innings for Delhi Capitals this season. His most recent knock was a score of just one against Mumbai Indians, but he had reeled off consecutive fifties in traditional Pant style in the two previous matches.
His run tally this season is exceeded only by Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson (178) among Indian wicketkeepers. Samson, along with Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma and KL Rahul form Pant’s competition for the wicketkeeping slot.
