KL Rahul Or Rishabh Pant? Virat Kohli Reveals Who Will Keep Wickets In New Zealand T20Is

With every passing match, KL Rahul is not only enhancing his reputation but is also creating a dilemma for the team-management. Before the start of the just-concluded ODI series against Australia, he had given the team-management a big headache with his stunning performance in absence of Shikhar Dhawan. The team-management had to pick one between Dhawan and KL Rahul as opener and while the management went for the former as opener, it made sure to include the latter in the playing eleven in all the three games.

And KL Rahul fully justified the decision. In the series-opener, he played a fine knock of 47 while sharing a century-plus stand with Shikhar Dhawan. In the do-or-die second game, he blasted 80 from just 52 balls to help India post 340 and win the game to draw level in the series. And after the end of the series, he has given the team-management another dilemma.

The team-management is bound to find it tough to relieve KL Rahul of the wicketkeeping duties once Rishabh Pant returns. Pant suffered a concussion in the very first game of the series and KL Rahul went on to impress as wicketkeeper too. It will be interesting to see the team-management’s decision in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

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But for the time being, it looks like KL Rahul will be preferred ahead of Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper-batsman. Speaking after the third ODI on Sunday, India skipper Virat Kohli made it clear that the team-management is unlikely to tinker with the playing eleven in the T20Is against New Zealand. Virat Kohli stated that the team will persist with Rahul as wicketkeeper.

“Well look we have what we have in the team. As I said, Rahul brings in balance into the side. We have to persist with it as he has done well. We have to see whether it works, you cannot chop and change. I do not see why we should change this playing XI,” Virat Kohli said.

Last month, India head coach Ravi Shastri had also said that the team-management is open to the idea of using KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper in T20Is. And thus, it would not be surprising at all if India bench under-performing Pant and persist with KL Rahul for a long time. The Men in Blue will take on New Zealand in five T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests. The first T20I will be played on Friday, January 24.