The Border Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most prestigious series in cricket, and the upcoming series between India and Australia is set to be one of the most exciting yet. However, India will have to do without wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant due to injury, leaving them searching for a replacement. This blog post will look at three wicketkeepers who could fill Pant shoes and provide stability behind the stumps. So join us as we explore these potential replacements and how they could fare in the upcoming series.
Rishabh Pant injured
The unfortunate news of India’s most promising young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant getting injured in a road accident has rocked the cricket fraternity. Pant, who was in the form of his life, is expected to miss the upcoming Border-Gavaskar trophy due to his injury.
This news has come as a massive blow to Indian fans and selectors alike; as Rishabh Pant has been a crucial part of India’s success in recent times. With no obvious choice to replace Pant, the selectors will have to look for an alternative wicketkeeper for the series. The selectors could consider some possible options to replace Pant in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in February-March 2023.
Three Wicketkeepers who can replace Rishabh Pant
1) Wriddhiman Saha
Wriddhiman Saha is one of the most experienced wicket-keepers in the Indian cricket team. He has been an integral part of the team since his debut in 2010 and has been in good form throughout his career. He is currently playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
Saha has represented India in 8 Tests, 33 ODIs, and 10 T20Is. In Test cricket, he has taken 74 catches and made 28 stumpings. He is also known for his batting; scoring 543 runs at an average of 25.18. His highest score of 117 came against Bangladesh in 2018. He is known to be very reliable behind the stumps and is a good leader as well.
In the IPL, Saha has scored 1142 runs in 84 innings at an average of 16.33. He has also taken 46 catches and affected 13 stumpings. Saha’s vast experience and leadership qualities make him a strong contender to replace Pant in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy. He can be trusted to do an excellent job with the gloves and adds significant value with his batting in the lower order.
2) Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan is one of the brightest prospects in the Indian cricket world and has shown great potential in recent years. He was part of the India U-19 team for the 2016 U-19 World Cup, where he scored a half-century and an impressive 56 against Pakistan in the quarterfinals. Kishan has also been amazing in the IPL and was a part of Mumbai Indians’ winning squad in 2020. He has also represented India A and is considered a reliable wicketkeeper by many.
Kishan was also a part of India’s Test squad for their tour of Australia in 2018-19 but did not get to play a game. He is still waiting for his chance at the Border Gavaskar Trophy could be the perfect opportunity for him. He is considered one of the best wicketkeepers in the domestic circuit;and could make his mark if given a chance.
3) KS Bharat
KS Bharat is a right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper hailing from Andhra Pradesh. He made his debut for India A Against New Zealand A in 2016. Bharat has been making headlines in the Ranji Trophy and has been a consistent performer for Andhra. He has scored more than 1000 runs in this season’s Ranji Trophy and has also effected 21 dismissals with the gloves.
With impressive performances and consistent showings; Bharat will likely be a strong contender to replace Rishabh Pant in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. He is an agile wicketkeeper who can also contribute with the bat, making him an ideal choice for the Indian team.
Conclusion
The Indian cricket team is in a difficult situation with the injury of Rishabh Pant in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Nevertheless, a few wicketkeepers could step in and fill the void left by Pant’s absence. Wriddhiman Saha, Ishan Kishan, and KS Bharat are all excellent wicketkeepers who have the potential to take on the responsibility of leading India’s batting lineup.
All these three players have their own merits; and it will be interesting to see who gets chance to replace Rishabh Pant in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. We wish Pant a speedy recovery and hope that he gets back on the field soon.
