KL Rahul Is A Better Wicketkeeper Than Rishabh Pant: Irfan Pathan

Former Indian pace bowler Irfan Pathan has weighed in on the KL Rahul-Rishabh Pant debate. He has made it clear as to who he believes is the better of the two. Pathan has made it clear that Rahul is a better wicket-keeper than Pant at the moment. Pathan has justified the team management’s decision of going along with Rahul in limited-overs cricket.

Rahul-Pant has become the talk of the town in recent times. Since MS Dhoni’s departure from the Indian team, the team has failed to find an effective replacement. Pant had been given numerous chances but he failed miserably. But, his concussion in the first ODI against Australia made way for Rahul and the Karnataka wicketkeeper-batsman has become a regular starter since then.

Also Read: Mayanti Langer Shuts Down Troll After He Says Stuart Binny Is Busy Carrying Her Baggage

Irfan Pathan Reveals His Choice:

Fans and experts all across the globe have been sharing their views on the debate. Pathan is the new entrant in the list and has made it clear as to who should be the first choice for India.

Speaking on Star Sports in Game Plan, Pathan said, “I really believe that Rishabh Pant has a big future when it comes to about his batting abilities. In keeping, he still needs to improve, he needs to work a lot. KL Rahul is actually keeping better than Rishabh Pant at the moment.”

However, Pathan has also mentioned that the management needs to support Pant at the moment.

“Even if Pant is warming the bench now, the team management should give him serious backing that although you are not in the Playing XI, it doesn’t mean that you are not in the scheme of things. He has a bright future but he needs to work a lot,” Pathan added.

Laman Supports Pathan’s views

Not only Pathan but veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman has also advocated Rahul over Pant.

“Rishabh Pant should understand that he being a frontline keeper, the team management is reposing faith on a keeper in the form of KL Rahul who doesn’t regularly keep in international cricket. He does for Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare and in the Mushtaq Ali. It means Pant has to work hard on his keeping,” said Laxman.

“There’s a message that team management must have passed on to Rishabh Pant. It’s not about his batting, it’s about improving his keeping skills. Because if you see the two-three series that he has kept in for India in limited-overs cricket, he has not been great behind the stumps. If Rishabh Pant improves his keeping, he’ll get into the Playing XI,” the veteran Indian batsman added.

India will take on New Zealand in a three-match ODI series. The first game of the series will take place on February 5 in Hamilton. Captain Kohli has made it clear that Rahul will start in the game and bat in the middle-order. This is a clear message that Pant will not be in the Playing XI for the first game on Wednesday and might have to warm the bench a bit more.

Also Read: Wasim Jaffer Becomes First Batsman To Score 12,000 Runs in Ranji Trophy