Ishan Kishan vs KL Rahul: Whom should Team India persist with as keeper-batter in World Cup

Quite a few questions have been asked since India’s squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup was announced on Tuesday by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma.

Given the magnitude of the upcoming event that India is set to host for the first time since 2011 and for the fourth time in the tournament’s history, as well as the fact that the Men in Blue have been without an ICC trophy for a decade now, questions are but natural.

Plenty of questions have been asked of the bowling unit, where the spin department is without a leg-spinner of the calibre of Yuzvendra Chahal or an off-spinner such as Ravichandran Ashwin, and is packed with left-arm spinners.

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Similar questions have been asked of the pace department and having to choose between Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj as Jasprit Bumrah’s new-ball partner, or the need to sacrifice a seam-bowling all-rounder to accommodate all three.

As for the batting department, the focus will be on the top-order’s inconsistency. As well as on a pivotal decision in the middle-order — that of choosing between KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan for the number five as well as for the wicket-keeper’s role.

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The job normally would have been carried out by Rishabh Pant but for his accident last December that has put him out of action ever since, and has made a return unlikely at least till the next edition of the Indian Premier League.

As we build towards the upcoming World Cup, we take a look at some of the points favouring the two candidates for the wicketkeeper-batter’s slot, and whom should the team persist with in the World Cup

Kishan’s recent form a bonus

There is no denying the fact that Kishan is very much in the form of his life. India have played five one-day internationals after the conclusion of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kishan has batted in four of those ODIs and did not get to bat in the fifth one — against Nepal on Monday, in which skipper Rohit Sharma and fellow opener Shubman Gill led India to a 10-wicket win with an unbroken 147-run partnership.

The fact that Kishan has crossed the fifty-mark in all four of those outings for the Men in Blue since July makes for a compelling case for selection into the World Cup playing XI.

And that is the kind of form that no team leadership can ignore, and will make it extremely difficult a call for skipper Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid.

Contributing to the clamour for his selection into the XI is the masterclass that he produced against Pakistan in Pallekele last Saturday, dishing out an 81-ball 82 against a rampaging Pakistan attack that had reduced the Indian top-order to 66/4 and had threatened to bowl them out for 200 or less.

It was Kishan’s counter-attacking approach that not only took the momentum away from Pakistan and brought India back on track, but also helped add to his fan base.

And the highlight of the game arguably was his uppercut off Haris Rauf that was a clear indicator of his fearless approach on the day.

Rahul a proven match-winner

Recent form alone, however, is not enough to determine which player gets to fill a spot, especially for a tournament like the World Cup. And especially if a more senior player competing for the same spot happens to be returning from an injury.

Rahul has been out of action since he picked up a thigh injury while fielding during Lucknow Super Giant’s ill-tempered home game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Lucknow on 1 May. And he would would remain relegated to the sidelines ever since, having not made an appearance in the Asia Cup yet despite being part of the squad.

Rahul had been in excellent form with the bat before the injury; he had after all rescued India from a periolous position with an unbeaten 75 on a tricky Wankhede wicket where a majority of the Indian top-order had failed, and the hosts were reduced to 39/4 after being set a modest 189 to win.

Read | Rahul posts emotional message after being declared fit, included in WC squad

He had similarly stood up for his team and led a fightback in the second of three ODIs against Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 64 to help the Men in Blue chase down the 216-run target after they had been reduced to 86/4.

Conclusion

Fact is that Rahul had been designated as the wicketkeeper-batter since Pant’s accident, a role in which he has exceeded expectations in the one-day format even if he remains doubtful for T20Is. Add to that the fact that Rahul has been backed through thick and thin, both by the current leadership that includes skipper Rohit and coach Rahul as well as the previous one that had Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri as captain and coach respectively. Therefore, Rahul being picked ahead of Kishan is something of a no-brainer.

What Kishan’s recent form has done however, is to put Rahul under immense pressure for his spot. While KLR might get the backing for the initial round of games, the Men in Blue will know they have an able replacement in Kishan waiting in the wings, willing to grab the bull by the horns.

It should therefore, make for an interesting little game of musical chairs in the World Cup between these two.