T20 World Cup 2024: Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Or KL Rahul? India's wicketkeeper picked by Navjot Singh Sidhu

Legendary commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu had his say about India's wicket-keeper batsman options for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Sidhu wants to see all 3 of Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant in the USA and West Indies. 

This particular topic of India's 15-man squad for the T20 WC is trending all over the country as Indian team fans are getting eager to find out the squad composition.

Among the most talked about departments of the team is the wicket-keeping department. At the moment there is a tussle going on between Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Sanju Samson for those two spots. 

Dissecting KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson's performances 

There are divided opinions about all three of them who are captaining their respective teams in the Indian Premier League 2024 season.

KL Rahul is leading the Lucknow Super Giants for the 3rd season in a row, and Rishabh Pant is on his comeback season as Delhi Capitals captain. Sanju Samson is in his 4th year as the Rajasthan Royals skipper. 

LSG, DC, and RR have had contrasting seasons in IPL 2024 and their captains are largely responsible for their current situations. Sanju Samson's side is on top of the points table after 44 matches with 16 points to their name and they are just a win away from play-offs qualification. 

A lot of things have worked in favor of RR, who have most of their bases covered and most of their players are also in form. Sanju Samson, too, is in good form as he has scored 385 runs from 9 games at a 161 strike rate with 4 fifties to his name.

He was also adjudged as man of the match last night during Rajasthan's 7-wicket win over LSG at the Sawai Mansingh stadium. 

That brings us to LSG captain KL Rahul has already played the same amount of games he played last season before getting ruled out of IPL 2023 due to an injury.

The right-hander has led Lucknow towards 5 victories from 9 games this year as they currently sit 4th in the table with 10 points. They are below 2nd and 3rd placed KKR and SRH only because of a poorer net run rate. 

KL Rahul's contribution to LSG has been immense but it has also been a little inconsistent. Rahul has scored 378 runs at 144 strike rate with 3 fifties. He is averaging 42, which is less than Sanju Samson's who has a 77 average.

Rishabh Pant is much more important for DC than Rahul and Samson for LSG and RR

Last but not least is Delhi's captain Rishabh Pant. The left-hand batter, in his comeback IPL season following the car crash lay-off, has had a topsy-turvy kind of a season.

DC's season has pretty much gone in the same way it has gone for LSG and Rahul. DC have also won 5 games and they sit at number 5 because of their minus net run-rate. 

Rishabh Pant has been directly involved in the team's success and has been much more important for his team than Rahul and Samson are for LSG and RR.

Pant has scored 371 runs from 10 games at a good strike rate of 160.61 with 3 fifty+ scores. He has proved his case very well for the T20 World Cup and it will be interesting to see who gets picked eventually. 

What did Navjot Singh Sidhu say about the trio?

While speaking exclusively with Star Sports, Navjot Singh Sidhu claimed that Sanju Samson will be his number 1 choice because of his red-hot form. About KL Rahul, Sidhu feels that he can be used as a spare opener, no. 4 as well as a no. 6 batsman, highlighting his versatility. 

As for Rishabh Pant, Sidhu claimed that even if he has had a topsy-turvy season, the left-hander has still done well in his comeback season. 

"No. 1 is Sanju Samson, on form. This is a different Samson. If India finds themselves in situations where they need a spare opener or No. 4 batter or at No. 6, they you have KL Rahul, who is also in form."

"But I will still prefer Samson, followed by Rishabh Pant. He is coming out of an injury. Now, do you consider him as a white-ball specialist? His form is a bit patchy and scratchy, but he has survived the test so far. My preferences are these three." - Navjot Singh Sidhu said via Star Sports.