ICC World Test Championship Final: Ishan Kishan vs KS Bharat, Dinesh Karthik Names His Wicket-keeper For WTC Final

Last Update on: June 6th, 2023 at 09:11 pm

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The 38-year-old India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has shared his views on the Ishan Kishan vs KS Bharat debate a day before the ICC World Test Championship Final between the Men In Blue and the Baggy Greens.

One of the most talked about topics in the lead-up to the ICC World Test Championship Final has been the selection of a wicketkeeper-batter in Team India’s playing XI.

In the absence of the star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as well as former vice-captain KL Rahul, the selection committee included KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan in the squad as the glovemen.

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Among the two aforementioned keepers, only one can find a place in the playing XI for the ultimate Test. Many have suggested the direct inclusion of Ishan Kishan, who has not yet represented India in Tests, in the line-up as he can provide the X-factor. While others feel that KS Bharat needs to be backed as he was the one who kept wickets in the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 at home.

Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik falls in the latter category as he believes that Bharat looked promising in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and he should be played over Kishan.

“I would go for KS Bharat only because of continuity. I think he’s played four Test matches against Australia. In difficult conditions, give him one more opportunity. He played a couple of 25-30s, but he looked good, and he did try and kept really well in the series. I do think this could well be a game-changer for him, this game,” said Karthik on Cricbuzz.

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It takes a bit of skill, keeping in England – Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik, who represented India in 26 Test matches, further said that keeping wickets in England requires a bit of skill.

“There’s not gonna be too much hard work for the keepers apart from the fact that it does wobble a bit, so it takes a bit of skill, keeping in England,” he said.

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Dinesh Karthik further said that the team management has been grooming Bharat for a while and it’s time to give him the opportunity to play the summit clash.

“Though, I think Ishan Kishan will be pretty good with the gloves. But just for pure continuity, you have given five games is a lot fairer. I know it’s a World Test Championship final, and also, I feel it’s hard on Ishan Kishan to come straightaway and play a final whereas KS Bharat has been part of the Test squad. They’ve been grooming him for some time now. So, give him the opportunity,” he added.

It takes a bit of skill, keeping in England – Dinesh Karthik

Sonanchal Gautam