India is going to host New Zealand next month and before that an important debate has erupted regarding the selection of the ODI team. This discussion is not about the first option in the playing eleven, because KL Rahul’s place as wicketkeeper-batsman is considered fixed at the moment. The real question is about the backup wicketkeeper, where the selectors have a difficult choice between Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant.
Ishaan Kishan’s brilliant performance
Looking at Ishan Kishan’s current form, it seems natural for him to get a chance. Due to his recent excellent performance, he got a place in the T20 World Cup team at the last moment. However, the question arises whether it would be right to ignore Rishabh Pant once again on the basis of this form, especially when he has not got the opportunity to play continuously in the 50 over format.
When Pant was out of the team after a car accident in December 2022, Kishan got a chance and he proved himself by scoring a double century on the Bangladesh tour. After this, when KL Rahul got injured in 2023, Kishan played the role of regular wicketkeeper and played impressive innings continuously. His innings of 82 runs against Pakistan in the Asia Cup is still remembered. On the basis of this performance, he was included in the ODI World Cup team, although he got limited opportunities there.
In December 2023, Kishan was dropped from BCCI’s central contract due to mental health reasons and distance from domestic cricket, due to which his career seemed to be derailed for some time. In contrast, Rishabh Pant returned to competitive cricket through IPL 2024 and made a place in the team as a backup in the T20 World Cup. He was tried in ODIs during the Sri Lanka tour, but after that he had to sit on the bench again.
According to media reports, Pant may be kept out of the home ODI series against New Zealand. At the same time, Kishan has again attracted the attention of the selectors by scoring a century in the very first match of Vijay Hazare Trophy. This has made his claim even stronger.
form vs fairness
In this debate of form versus fairness, Kishan’s side is definitely strong, but Pant not getting consistent opportunities also cannot be ignored. Statistics show that there is not much difference in the performance of both, the only difference is that Kishan has got more consistency. In the presence of KL Rahul, it has been difficult for Pant to make a place in the playing eleven.
There is less risk in domestic series and there is scope for experimentation. In such a situation, the selectors have a good opportunity to give a clear chance to Pant also. If India wants to build a strong team for future big tournaments, then not only the current form but also the conditions and consistency of the players will have to be kept in mind.
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