Former Team India chief selector Kris Srikkanth believes that KL Rahul will be chosen over Rishabh Pant for a wicketkeeping job in the T20 World Cup 2020. He opined that with IPL 2020’s future under doubt because of the spread of coronavirus. Besides, the comeback of MS Dhoni in the Indian team seems complicated.
The IPL 2020, which was earlier scheduled to start from 29th March, has been postponed till 15th April. But the cases of the COVID-19 are increasing rapidly, BCCI will face difficulty to host the 13th edition of IPL.
Former Indian captain, who last played in the semi-finals of World Cup 2019, was ready to feature in the IPL 2020. As said by head coach Ravi Shastri, Dhoni’s re-admission in the team depended on his performance in this edition. But if IPL 2020 gets cancelled, Dhoni is unlikely to feature in the T20 World Cup which is scheduled in November.
Srikkanth Chooses KL Rahul for wicketkeeper job:
The youngster Rishabh Pant will also face the consequences of the cancellation of IPL. He has been struggling to score runs after been continuously given opportunities. While his place has been taken by KL Rahul, who has proved to be beneficial as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
Srikkanth believes that Rahul will be the first choice for the team in T20 World Cup while Pant will include in the squad.
“Because straightaway, in my opinion, KL Rahul will be the wicketkeeper-batsman. Rishabh Pant, I still think he might be a bit of a doubt, but I believe that Rishabh Pant is highly talented,” he said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.
“So, I wouldn’t mind taking him along with the squad, but definitely if the IPL doesn’t happen, then Dhoni will have a difficult time getting back into the team for the T20 World Cup,” he added.
After Pant got injured during the ODI series against Australia this year, KL Rahul was given a chance to don the glove. He capitalised the opportunity and impressed the team management. And since then, Rahul is donning the glove for India in white-ball cricket.