WTC Final 2023: "He Has Scored A Lot Of Runs In First-Class Cricket" - S Sreesanth Picks Srikar Bharat Over Ishan Kishan For WTC Final

WTC Final 2023: “He Has Scored A Lot Of Runs In First-Class Cricket” – S Sreesanth Picks Srikar Bharat Over Ishan Kishan For WTC Final

Last Update on: June 7th, 2023 at 02:01 pm

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Former Indian pacer S Sreesanth has weighed in on Team India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Sreesanth believes that KS Bharat should be selected over Ishan Kishan for the playing XI.

Rohit Sharma and his team will face Australia in the title decider on Wednesday, June 7 at The Oval in London. With Rishabh Pant unavailable, cricket experts are divided on India’s wicketkeeper-batter for the crucial encounter.

When asked whether Srikar Bharat spending a lot of time at the nets the day before the game gives any hint during an interview on the Star Sports program “Follow the Blues,” Sreesanth responded lightheartedly: “I feel his name has ‘Sri’. We won the T20 and 50-over World Cups when ‘Sree’ played. So this time when ‘Sri’ plays, we will win the ICC World Test Championship as well.”

Also Read: ICC World Test Championship Final: “I Would Love To See India Beat Australia In Title Clash” – Graeme Swann

The Andhra Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman has a remarkable first-class track record, as noted by former Indian bowler S Sreesanth: “I have seen Bharat in first-class cricket as well. I have been seeing him since 2013. He has scored a lot of runs in first-class cricket. It’s not that he is not a good batter and one more thing is that his work ethics are fantastic. There is so much to learn from him as a youngster.”

In 90 first-class games, Bharat has amassed 4808 runs at a respectable average of 37.27. He has nine centuries and 27 half-centuries to his name, as well as 303 catches and 36 stumpings.

Also Read: WTC Final 2023: “He Has A Point To Prove” – AB de Villiers On Virat Kohli Ahead Of The WTC Final

“KS Bharat is a very good choice”- S Sreesanth

Former Indian bowler S Sreesanth believes Rishabh Pant’s absence has created an excellent opportunity for either Ishan Kishan or Srikar Bharat:

“Yes, there is a lot of comparison between Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant as a left-hander, but just like we used to say that Dhoni bhai can’t be replaced – Rishabh Pant get well soon, it will be very good for Indian cricket, but Ishan Kishan and Srikar Bharat have an opportunity,” S Sreesanth said.

“I am saying that on such a wicket, Bharat knows where the off-stump is. He plays attacking cricket whenever required. He used to play attacking cricket only when he started playing first-class cricket. Then he became a more mature cricketer. For me personally, Bharat is a very good choice” S Sreesanth added.

Also Read: WTC Final 2023: “Test Cricket Is The Ultimate Format, Most Challenging Format” – Rohit Sharma

Bharat scored 101 runs in the four-Test series against Australia earlier this year, with a best score of 44. Kishan, on the other hand, has yet to make his Test debut, and the Indian think-tank may not want to take the risk of fielding him in such an important game.