Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has raised doubts about wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat’s position in the Test team. Since his Test debut last year against Australia in Nagpur, Bharat has amassed just 221 runs in seven matches, averaging a modest 20.09, without scoring a half-century in the longest format. Manjrekar believes that since Bharat isn’t making significant contributions with the bat, the management should explore other options. With Rishabh Pant waiting to make his comeback, Manjrekar questions the wisdom of investing more time in Bharat.
“It feels like he’s in his debut series. He’s played before; he featured in all four Test matches against Australia, and Rishabh Pant is expected to return soon. So, I’m not convinced it’s worthwhile to continue investing in KS Bharat. He’s not a youngster anymore, and India had moved on from KS Bharat and turned to Ishan Kishan. Bharat has just about done enough to retain his place in the side. While this management believes in fairness to every player, I would explore other options before Rishabh Pant reclaims his spot,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar urged the management to prioritize wicketkeepers who can also contribute with the bat, rather than solely focusing on their glovework.
“India needs to assess KS Bharat’s keeping abilities and determine whether we can afford to have someone who isn’t contributing significantly with the bat… In recent times, both in India and globally, teams have sought keepers who are decent behind the stumps but also add value with the bat,” he added.
India has struggled to finalize a wicketkeeper in Pant’s absence, as he continues his recovery from a life-threatening car crash in December 2022.
Pant has begun light training and is expected to feature in some matches during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. He was retained by Delhi Capitals during the last mini auction.
Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2024 squad includes players such as Abhishek Porel, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Pravin Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, and Swastik Chhikara.
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