A case for Rahul to open and Ishan Kishan to keep wicket

Rahul was impressive with the gloves in the World Cup, but experts are against the idea of him keeping in Tests

- Rasesh Mandani

Pioneered by Adam Gilchrist, the new-age wicketkeeper doesn’t also bat; he bats first – preferably at a rapid pace - and also keeps. In Rishabh Pant, India found a rare talent who could bat in a similar manner. Pant has been out for a year now following injuries suffered in a car crash and it is being acutely felt by India in overseas Tests where he operated virtually like a world-class all-rounder.

This June in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, India went back to a traditional wicketkeeper in KS Bharat. There’s nothing to dislike about Bharat and his skill sets as a ‘keeper; he comes with a good domestic record. But in the absence of a genuine fast-bowling all-rounder, India requires much more with the bat from its ‘keeper.

They have already seen the upside of having Pant. The dynamic southpaw decimated bowlers and has Test hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa. How does India find a match-winning replacement for Pant?

KL Rahul being bracketed as a wicketkeeper in the Test squad for South Africa suggests that it is one left-field option the team management is open to. What does Rahul donning the gloves bring? For one, it allows India to lengthen their batting – Rahul at 5, Shreyas Iyer at 6 and Ravindra Jadeja at 7.

Batting has been hard work on South African pitches – there were only two hundreds from both sides – by Rahul and Pant -- in the 2021-22 three-match series (SA won 2-1).