England is a country where the cricket ball swings. That means it moves in the air. It may also deviate off the pitch if landed on the seam. This makes a batter’s job tougher. This also means that those standing in catching positions behind the stumps play an important role. They have to take the catches. One of the most important of them is the wicketkeeper, for most balls usually end up in his gloves.
As far India are concerned ahead of the World Test Championship final against Australia, this remains a gray area. KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan are the options, and neither inspires a lot of confidence. Both are relatively new when it comes to international cricket. Kishan, in fact, is yet to play Test cricket.
Bharat got four games against Australia at home earlier this year. Truth be told, he was not exactly impressive. He dropped regulation catches against both pace and spin. There were occasions when he even failed to collect the ball properly. This is not to malign him, but just a simple observation. Picked on the basis of a lot of promise, he has so far failed to live up to those expectations.
When it comes to Kishan, what does one say? He is not a regular wicketkeeper for Jharkhand, his state in first-class cricket. Yes, he dons the big gloves in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has even done that for India in limited-over games. Not that he has shown any glaring flaws, but Test cricket in England, with the ball wobbling around, is going to be a different deal altogether.
It’s important for the wicketkeeper to be a handy batter as well. Bharat used to open for Andhra Pradesh and has a first-class triple century to his credit. Batting credentials played a vital part in his inclusion in the Indian team. But against Australia in the four Tests, he did very little to justify that billing. Actually, he cut a sorry figure at times, other than on a flat deck in Ahmedabad.
Kishan is obviously a better batting option. He has also opened for his state, and has done it for India in limited-over games as well. He has had some success, no doubt about that. A double-century in a 50-over game is a massive achievement. Going strictly by his batting abilities and the fact that he is a left-hand bat, it’s tempting to say that he will get the nod ahead of Bharat.
But that the match is going to be played in the early part of the English summer queers the pitch for both Bharat and Kishan. Firstly, their keeping skills are going to be tested, be sure about that. The ball will move in the air. They will have to be at their best to come to terms with it. They have not experienced anything like this in the past. Whoever plays will have to be alert and agile all the time.
Secondly, their batting ability will also be challenged. Against a very formidable Australian attack in conditions where the ball will wobble in the air and move off the pitch, they will face a test they have not yet. It will take enormous amounts of courage, ability and determination to come out trumps. There are unlikely to be easy runs, and they will have to work very hard for every single.
Having said that, this is also an opportunity to show that they belong at the Test-match level. No With no Rishabh Pant for the immediate future, and KL Rahul also out injured, India will rely on Bharat and Kishan as far as wicketkeeping is concerned. This is the time that makes men out of boys. If they deliver, they will prove that they have the mettle in them.
Effectively, the World Test Championship final is a trial as well as a stage to establish themselves. Whoever plays, and it’s not clear yet, will have the chance of a lifetime. This is the biggest Test, like a World Cup final. Excellence or even a gritty contribution will go a long way towards making them India players for quite some time. Go, grab your chance!
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