IPL performances is an additional entry channel for youngsters, who only utilize the opportunity to play fearless cricket. Consistency in their first class career should still be the pivotal option for selectors to decide on a talent.
Rishabh Pant, after his brilliant hundred is spoken as a replacement for MS Dhoni in ODIs and T20s. He has definitely improved his power hitting, while his running between the wickets and build up to an innings is still a work in progress. Going by the mere volume of scores, people are already speaking about his inclusion in the squad as a lead up to the world cup 2019. Unfortunately, he has few other boxes to click right. It was a delight to watch him smash 128 not out in DD's encounter against Sun risers Hyderabad on 10th May 2018, especially after 2 run outs for which Pant was to be blamed. The onus was on him to finish the innings not out and he took up the responsibility really well.
Let us look at some statistics - His first class average is 53, has 4 hundreds in 30 innings that he has played. He has to really improve his scores at that level and be more consistent to earn ODI cap permanently. He has age by his side. 2023 world cup should be his primary target from now on. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan are all sensations of IPL, but yet to establish themselves in their first class careers. If we look at their careers, they also need to show more consistency and they have done nothing wrong in IPL for their respective franchises.
Before anyone talks about comparing these talents with the likes of MS Dhoni, they should track them in their first class careers and not only with IPL performances. 2019 world cup would be Dhoni's last world cup and we have plenty of talents for wicket keeper batsmen after MS Dhoni to choose from. This is a great sign indeed for Indian Cricket. Coming to the discussion on Dinesh Karthik, Indian selectors have done the right thing in keeping both MS Dhoni and Dinesh karthik for England tour in ODI and T20. I would love to see MSD bat at number 4, making it a permanent spot for him going forward. Sad that Rahane did not get picked but the competition is plenty, as K L Rahul is showing his class too. Dinesh karthik can play the role of a finisher along with Hardik Pandya, after his heroics in Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh.
MS Dhoni, who is always aware of the competition involved, has raised his level of game in Vivo IPL version 11. His Strike rate is the best in all the 11 years that he has played this T20 version. Dinesh Karthik is leading the KKR side and plays the role of finisher for his side, though not in a similar fashion as Dhoni does for CSK. Nonetheless, DK can do it for India and he has prior experience of playing in English conditions too. Keeping in mind, the world cup 2019 and beyond, Indian selectors have done the right thing to stick with MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik and not getting biased with IPL sensations knocking the door hard.
Indian wicket keeper batsmen is in safe hands after Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
