For India's T20 World Cup squad, Irfan Pathan picks his choice of wicketkeeper.
Former all-rounder of Indian cricket team Irfan Pathan feels that it is going to be hard for Ishan Kishan to make it for the 2024 T20 World Cup considering his preferred batting position. With uncertainty over the availability of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul being out of the T20I scheme of things at the moment, India needs to finalise the wicketkeeper’s slot for the mega ICC event. India have picked Ishan Kishan and Jitesh Sharma as the two wicketkeeping options for the ongoing T20I series against South Africa.
Pathan suggested that Jitesh has an upper hand over Ishan in the shortest format as there is tough competition at the top of the order, which is the southpaw’s preferred position.
Pathan said, “I will play Jitesh hands down. I have maintained earlier that if you have to play Ishan, whether it is ODIs or T20Is, you have to play him at the top, and there is a traffic jam at the top.”
He added, “When you bat in the middle order, you will get spin in front of you, and there, Kishan might have difficulties at times. Jitesh Sharma is a slightly creative player. He is a Suryakumar Yadav-mould type player. You will see him playing the lap and different types of shots.”