India vs Bangladesh: Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, or Ishan Kishan? A problem of abundance and why it doesn't help
It's safe to say that the wicketkeeper-batsman position for India as things stand is a bit of a problem, mainly because there is no undisputed first choice
Rishabh Pant has long seemed to be the man destined to replace MS Dhoni as the keeper of choice in all three formats, but that is no longer a certainty.
Rishabh Pant was displaced by an ageing Dinesh Karthik for the run-up to the T20 World Cup, only playing when team management wanted to rest Dinesh Karthik or when they needed a left-hander in the XI.
But the main reason the issue isn't settled isn't solely to the players – although there is a credible argument to be made that none of the alternatives has done enough to solidify themselves.
No, it is mainly down to the fact that India has a problem of plenty, and the BCCI seem content to rotate through these options as and when they see fit.
There isn't much in the way of consistency – admittedly, not all down to the selectors or the board.
Aside from Rishabh Pant, the other realistic options are Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson. But both present very different choices.
Ishan Kishan is best suited to batting atop the order and is a decent pair of hands behind the stumps. But his batting can often be one-dimensional; rather than look to rotate the strike, he appears content to slog and miss if needed.
The attacking intent deserves to be lauded, but your approach is an issue if you're only playing out dots or getting boundaries.
The best batsmen, even the sloggers, know when to rotate the strike and when to go on the offensive. Ishan Kishan, at this point, hasn't mastered that art.
As for Sanju Samson, his greatest enemy is often himself. He is a highly talented player who has all the shots in the book and, more importantly, intends to use those shots at every opportunity.
But his consistency with the bat often undermines him and means he is probably given less of a run than he deserves.
It also doesn't help that team management doesn't seem to know how best to use him. He is best as a top-order batsman, whether as an opener or at number three or four.
Yet the team seems intent on batting him at five or below and using him as a finisher, which makes no sense.
What doesn't help matters is that Rishabh Pant offers up another option. He's an X-factor player who can take the game away from the opposition when he's on a song.
However, his best days haven't come often enough in T20I cricket, which is why his position is under threat.
It is best if the team's management picks one - or even two because a backup option should also be considered - and sticks with it for a reasonable period.
As things stand, the constant chopping or changing is helping neither the players in question nor the team.
Editor's Picks
- 01
Brendon McCullum: England ready to be 'really brave' in team selection for India series
- 02
Diogo Jota inspires Liverpool surge as injuries fail to dampen Premier League lead
- 03
Cameron Norrie ready to go toe-to-toe with the big boys after stellar Australian Open run
- 04
Maxwel Cornet confident of scoring run after opening West Ham account