Wicket-keeping Skill has Taken a Back-Seat - Syed Kirmani

Gone are those days when the selection of the wicketkeeper was solely based on his wicketkeeping skills. Later, the game demanded the wicketkeeper to be a batsman. Then, it changed into a top-order batsman taking the Glovework to embed one more batsman or a bowler in the playing XI. Meanwhile, Syed Kirmani isn’t happy with the transformation.

The former great of India quoted wicketkeeping skill is going in the downward direction. He feels the importance of batting had made the individuals comprise on the wicketkeeping skills in the game of cricket.

Syed Kirmani believes the format of the game changed everything:

Explaining the drop down in the wicketkeeping skills, Syed added the game has evolved to the core which demanded various skills from the individual. He cited Rahul Dravid, as an example for the makeshift in wicketkeeping, where the capabilities of wicketkeeper have compromised.

“It (keeping skill) has taken a back-seat. Since the advent of one-dayers, a specialist wicketkeeper has to be a batsman as well. They are now looking at an all-rounder who can bat and who can stop the ball behind the stumps, sorry to be blunt about it. On those bases, that trend is following,” Kirmani told Sportster.

“With the advent of T20, it’s gone a step above. Now, everybody is looking for a batsman who can keep; K.L. Rahul is keeping, makeshift fellows are keeping. It all started with Rahul Dravid and T20 has taken it to another level,” he added.

Youngsters are following MS Dhoni – Syed Kirmani

Then, he spoke of MS Dhoni’s success behind the wicket, which out focussed the term skills with the youngsters following his technique. However, Kirmani feels it is never going to help the youngsters without a right method.

“No coach is talking about technique now. Performance is what is required now, nobody bothers about technique and Dhoni has proved that. Now, the youngsters are following whoever is at the top, like Dhoni, so the young wicketkeepers are following Dhoni, but in wicketkeeping, if you don’t have a certain technique, you will be found out,” he said.

However, it seems like Syed Kirmani isn’t impressed with the change, but he knows that the evolution of the game demanded it. Currently, India relied on MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant to do the job.