Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle was left surprised by India opting to go with KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper in the first ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka. He feels that if India is looking at him as a keeper in next year’s World Cup over regular keepers then he must do the role in all the games from now including IPL.
KL Rahul keeps wickets for India in the first ODI against Bangladesh
India is currently taking on Bangladesh in the first ODI of the three-match series in Dhaka. Ahead of the first game, India was jolted with the big blow as keeper batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the series.
With him being out of the series, India was left only with two choices for the keeper’s role in the XI in Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul. But the team went with the latter as the first-choice keeper in the side whereas the southpaw, who is the specialist keeper was not preferred.
This decision of India to go with Rahul as a keeper in the side made many confused especially with Sanju Samson who has been rested for this tour, Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan are all in the mix for the role.
It’s fair to say that the decision to go with Rahul as the keeper has increased the competition for the keeper’s role in the side. It remains to be seen who among them will be a regular keeper heading into the World Cup.
“He must keep virtually every game from now,” Harsha Bhogle on if India is seeing Rahul as a keeper for World Cup
Harsha Bhogle was also left confused with the team’s decision to opt for Rahul as a keeper. He said that if India wants KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper in World Cup over a regular keeper then he must do the role in all the games from now including IPL.
Taking to his official Twitter account, he said: “So, Rishabh has been released and Samson is in India! And back to KL Rahul to keep wickets when keepers are waiting for an opportunity and Ishan Kishan is there! I am quite confused. If the long term plan is to look at Rahul to keep wickets at the World Cup, he must keep in virtually every game from now and, ideally, in the IPL.”
If the long term plan is to look at Rahul to keep wickets at the World Cup, he must keep in virtually every game from now and, ideally, in the IPL https://t.co/umbXAcx5OJ
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 4, 2022
