In a recent press conference, India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, made it clear that KL Rahul will not take on the role of wicketkeeper in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Instead, the selection dilemma for the wicketkeeper-batter position lies between KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel. While Rahul demonstrated commendable wicketkeeping skills in the series against South Africa, Dravid emphasized the need for a specialist stumper in the challenging conditions against England.
Dravid stated:
Rahul will not be playing as a wicketkeeper in this series and we are clear about that in the selection itself. We picked two other wicketkeepers and obviously Rahul did a fantastic job for us in South Africa and really played a big part in helping us draw the series.
Considering the unique challenges posed by the Indian pitches, where standing up to spinners like R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja is crucial, the team management aims to assign the role to a specialist wicketkeeper.
Despite Rahul’s impressive performance in South Africa, where he contributed significantly to the series draw, his limited experience as a designated wicketkeeper in first-class matches in India raised concerns. With England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style potentially creating opportunities for the wicketkeeper, the team opted for a more specialized choice.
KS Bharat, who filled in admirably for the injured Rishabh Pant, emerged as a strong contender for the role. Despite not making a significant impact with the bat, Bharat’s consistent wicketkeeping skills, demonstrated in 91 First-Class matches, garnered praise.
In contrast, Dhruv Jurel, being relatively inexperienced, makes Bharat the likely choice as the wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming series against England. Bharat’s recent unbeaten 116 in the first unofficial ‘Test’ against the England Lions further adds to his credentials, earning him favour in the team’s think-tank.
