Unfortunate part-time keepers are teams’ priority: Kirmani
NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni’s long stint with the Test team gave selectors the time to pick a worthy successor as wicket-keeper. Wriddhiman Saha nudged ahead of Naman Ojha because of his more classical approach. His injury though has exposed the management’s myopic vision as they had to fall back on Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik, who were discarded after Dhoni’s arrival.
In a crucial year of Test tours, India have already fielded three wicket-keepers in the space of four Tests since January. If that wasn’t damning enough, the selectors have picked Rishabh Pant as backup to Karthik in England. With a Ranji triple century in his kitty, it is no surprise Pant is being tested out as a potential India stumper.
It remains to be seen how these random selections affect India’s long term plans, but former India wicket-keeper and World Cup winner Syed Kirmani feels the competition is taking a toll on quality. “You miss out on one or two innings and you are out of the team. They are making all batsmen makeshift wicket-keepers. Unfortunately, that is how the selection team is thinking. It reflects on their inexperience,” Kirmani, also a former chief selector, said from Bangalore.
This is not a one-off thing. The likes of Jonny Bairstow and Quinton de Kock are considered best in the business because of the runs they produce, not how safe they are behind the wicket. Proliferating T20 leagues too have strengthened the concept of getting a batsman to keep wicket. “It’s a phenomenon world over. All these injuries are happening because there is no particular technique wicket-keepers are following,” he said, referring to the shoulder injury of Saha.
With the Decision Review System (DRS) in place, the role of wicket-keepers has expanded manifold. Kirmani feels this is why Dhoni remains India’s best choice. “The wicket-keeper is the best judge of the game. I was so excited when MS Dhoni was appointed captain. And he proved himself so well. That is why I say lay off Dhoni. His experience gives the team a unique edge.”
Pant’s selection suggests specialist wicket-keepers may not get the nod easily in the future. Consistent scores or pinch-hitting is a must to stay in contention. Kirmani feels the rot sets in at state level. “The concept in the selection pattern is that they don’t want a specialised wicketkeeper. They want an additional all-rounder who can stop the ball.
“The first to take that place was Rahul Dravid (in the 2003 World Cup). Even KL Rahul is keeping wicket nowadays! Right now, all the state associations are choosing wicket-keepers like that.”