Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned the role of wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat in the Test team. Since his Test debut against Australia in Nagpur last year, Bharat has scored just 221 runs in seven matches, an average of a paltry 20.09. He is yet to score a half-century in the longest format of the game. Manjrekar believes that since Bharat is not contributing much with the bat, the management should look at other alternatives. Manjrekar doesn't think the management should invest more time in Bharat, especially with Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings.
“It's a lot like playing his first series. He's played before; he played all four Test matches against Australia, and Rishabh Pant is coming soon. So I'm not sure if it's worth it or makes sense to keep playing. ” investing in KS Bharat. He is also not even 20 years old, and India had moved from KS Bharat to Ishan Kishan. So he's done just enough to maybe keep his place in the team. This team management believes in being fair to everyone individually but I would personally look at another option before Rishabh Pant comes in and takes his place,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar urged the management to focus on goalkeepers who can contribute with the bat, rather than on his glovework.
“India will look at KS Bharat if his keeping is so good that we can afford to have someone who doesn't contribute as much with the bat… India lately and the whole world, if you see, is going for keepers who are decent goalkeepers but contribute with the bat,” he added.
India have failed to find a wicketkeeper in the absence of Pant, who continues his recovery after a life-threatening car accident in December 2022.
Pant has started light training and is expected to feature in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was retained by Delhi Capitals during the mini-auction last year.
Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2024 squad: Abhishek Porel, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Pravin Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara.
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