KL Rahul has been a part-time wicket-keeper for the Indian team most of his career in the white ball format of the game, he has been behind the wickets rather often over the last few years due to the team combinations and the injuries to the key player in the crucial games.
In the ODI format, KL Rahul’s batting has helped the Indian team to play four frontline batters at the top of the orders as he plays the role of the finisher alongside Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja in the lower order down the order. The Karnataka batter has got better experience playing in different positions for the Indian team.
The former Indian vice-captain’s career has been marred by injuries. Here are five better wicketkeeper batters than KL Rahul who can deliver good for the Indian team.
1. Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has been regarded as generational talent in Indian Cricket but has not got any consistent opportunity for the Indian team at the highest level. With Rishabh Pant being ruled of ODI World Cup and KL Rahul uncertain to return for the continental event, he will look to put a fine performance for the Indian team in the upcoming series to seal his spot for the marquee event later this year.
The Kerala batter has performed exceedingly well for the Indian team in the limited opportunity in the 50-over format. Sanju Samson has scored 330 runs in 11 ODIs so far at an impressive batting average of 66. He is expected to take up the role of finisher for the Indian team in the Asia Cup.
2. Jitesh Sharma
Jitesh Sharma has impressed everyone with his hard-hitting batting and finishing abilities and has also been impressed with his work behind the stumps for Punjab Kings and Vidarbha. The 29-year-old was part of the India T20 squad in the previous two series but could not make his debut for the Men in Blue and he can be a key player for the Indian team in the white-ball format of the game.
The Indian Wicket-keeper batter has been excellent in the IPL 2023, playing at different positions for the Punjab Kings in the cash-rich, providing impetus in the middle overs for the Shikhar Dhawan-led side. He is expected to be part of India’s squad for the T20 series against West Indies in July.
3. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan can be the perfect player for the Indian team as he brings versatility in the batting order and left-right combination into the play and the youngster has done a pretty decent job for the Indian team as he has smashed 510 runs at a good average of 42.5 in 14 ODIs, including an outstanding double hundred against Bangladesh last year.
The Southpaw can be a three-format player for the Indian team in the future, as he got all can be lethal opening batting for the Indian team, as can play fearless brand cricket for Men in Blue.
4. Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan can be another option for the Indian team. He has been one of the consistent performers for Mumbai, as he amassed 2970 runs from 26 matches (12 centuries, seven half-centuries) at an average of 106.07. In 36 first-class games, the 25-year-old has scored 3380 runs at an incredible average of 80.47. Though the youngster had a poor run in the IPL 2023, he can be a key player for the Indian team in the future.
In the shorter of the game, In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, he scored a crucial unbeaten 36 off 31 balls, helping Mumbai win the tournament for the first time in the 2022 season. The right-handed batter can be an option for the wicket-keeping spot in the coming series.
5. KS Bharat
KS Bharat can be a Wicket-keeper batter for the Indian team in the longer format of the game as he kept wickets very well in tough England conditions, though he could make an impact with the bat. The Andhra wicket-keeper would look to improve his batting skills to make a mark in the longer format of the game.
The 29-year-old has performed very well in domestic cricket for the Andhra team as he has shown that he has the calibre and temperament to endure long stays at the crease and score heavily once settled in. Bharat has become the first wicketkeeper to score a triple-hundred in a Ranji Trophy game and can be a key figure for the Indian team going forward, especially in red-ball cricket.