The Indian men's cricket selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, faces a pleasant yet challenging dilemma. The competition for the backup wicketkeeper's slot ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11, has intensified into a three-way tussle featuring Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel.
The Three Contenders in Focus
Ishan Kishan has forcefully re-entered the national reckoning after a spectacular domestic season. The southpaw led Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, amassing 517 runs and becoming only the second player to score a century in the tournament final, a blistering 45-ball effort. His form has carried into the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he smashed a 39-ball 125 against Karnataka. Although given rest by the BCCI, sources confirm he will play two more matches for Jharkhand against Kerala and Madhya Pradesh on January 3 and 6 respectively, keeping him firmly in the selector's gaze.
On the other hand, Rishabh Pant, India's Test vice-captain, finds himself in a tricky spot. Having warmed the ODI bench for over a year, he was the backup keeper in the recent South Africa series. His returns in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi have been mixed, with 97 runs in three matches, including a score of 70. His selection would hinge on the team's faith in his match-winning potential.
The dark horse is Dhruv Jurel. Picked as a specialist batter for the South Africa ODIs, the Uttar Pradesh player is in red-hot form, hammering 307 runs in three Vijay Hazare matches, including his maiden List A century against Baroda. While his primary keeping role is debated, his batting form is impossible to ignore.
Middle-Order Dynamics and Selection Headaches
The wicketkeeper decision is further complicated by the team's middle-order composition. With the return of fit-again captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, spaces are tight. The team management is keen to include left-handed batters in an otherwise right-hand dominant lineup. Kishan, who recently batted at No. 6 for Jharkhand and scored a 33-ball century, has presented himself as a potent left-handed option for the middle order. Pant is also batting at No. 5 for Delhi, making the competition direct.
An additional factor is fielding. Kishan is considered a strong outfielder, an area where Pant has limitations, potentially giving the Jharkhand keeper an edge in a tight race.
Pace Bowling Considerations
In other selection news, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is set to turn up for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 3 and 6 after a workload-related break. With Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested for the New Zealand ODIs, Arshdeep, who impressed with the new ball in South Africa, is a strong contender for a pace bowling slot.
The final squad for the New Zealand ODI series is expected to be announced in the first week of January. The team will assemble in Vadodara around January 7 or 8, ahead of the first match on January 11 at the same venue. The selectors' verdict on the wicketkeeper puzzle will be one of the most keenly awaited decisions.
