A good part of the focus of this IPL has been on Rishabh Pant as it marked his return to competitive cricket. Not just Pant, this IPL is also a chance for the other wicketkeeper-batsmen to pull up their socks and produce performances to brighten their prospects of securing a berth in Team India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in June.
The keeper-batter’s slot is one of the areas that the Indian team management has to be careful about and deal with due diligence going into the T20 showpiece in the West Indies and the United States.
However, with almost three weeks since the start of the ongoing IPL, Sanju Samson and Pant have been the only keeper-batters who have fared consistently so far. Mumbai Indians’ Ishan Kishan, who was in the news for the wrong reasons prior to this IPL, scored a 34-ball 69 against RCB on Thursday, his first 50-plus score this season, while Punjab Kings’ Jitesh Sharma is yet to do anything worthwhile with the bat. Even Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul hasn’t had much of an impact so far in this T20 league.
Kishan and Jitesh’s glovework behind the stumps hasn’t really been extraordinary.
Royals’ captain Samson, so far, aggregates 246 runs with three half-centuries at a brilliant average of 82 and a strike rate (157.69) that’s equally impressive. At No.3, Samson — Royals’ second-highest run-getter after Riyan Parag — has looked much more solid in the currrent edition and, more importantly, there’s judiciousness in his shot selection.
There was never any doubt though over his ability as a clean hitter. As a wicketkeeper too, Samson comes across as someone reliable.
As for Pant, the spotlight had been on his fitness and workload as he was making a comeback to cricket after more than a year. But as of now, he seems to have ticked the boxes and contributed with two 50-plus scores at a strike rate of 154.54, appearing in all five games the Delhi Capitals have played so far.
In terms of the number of runs scored, Pant (153) is behind Samson. While Pant also captains the Capitals, the national selectors are more interested with how well he does with the bat and behind the stumps.
“At present, there’s absolutely no concern over Rishabh’s fitness. He’s rather looking very sharp during training, especially when doing wicketkeeping drills. Also, he has reduced weight, appears leaner and fitter,” an official of the Delhi franchise told The Telegraph on Thursday.
That Pant has donned the keeper’s gloves in all of Delhi’s games so far is a positive. But his workload will still be monitored as it’s a marathon league with at least another nine matches remaining for his team even if they don’t make the playoffs.
“Till now, Samson and Pant have been the ones performing. If they remain consistent, they’re in with a great chance of being preferred for the (T20 Cup) squad. Others, including Rahul, have to step up,” a BCCI official said.
The selectors are also keeping an eye on young Dhruv Jurel for his “good, clean-striking ability”, though he has had only three innings so far for the Royals.
