Ranji Trophy 2023-24: From N Jagadeesan to Harvik Desai; Five players who ticked both boxes as a wicketkeeper and batter

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The ongoing edition of the Ranji Trophy tournament has seen wicket-keepers showcasing cat-like reflexes behind the stumps. However, some of them were extremely good at the core of their duties, making them the top drawers in terms of split-second timing, understanding of the bowler's tactics and the batsman's tendencies.

Wicketkeepers play an important role in the game as they engage in the psychological aspect, often being the ones to get under the batsman's skin. They imply clever banter and mind games to unsettle the opposition, gaining a mental edge for their team.

Apart from wicket-keeping traits, they play an integral role in adding flesh to the scoreboard. If a cricketer ticks both boxes consistently, he is certain to don the Indian jersey in the times to come. Let’s take a glimpse at the five best wicketkeeper-batters in Ranji Trophy 2023-24.

1. Narayan Jagadeesan: The 28-year-old has by far fired both cylinders as a wicket keeper and batsman in the ongoing Ranji Trophy tournament. The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman scored 727 runs in 6 games at a strike-rate of 103.85 including 2 centuries and a fifty. Notably, he is also the second-leading run-scorer in the ongoing tourney. On the contrary, he has taken 17 catches and affected 4 stumpings as a wicketkeeper.
2. Abishek Porel: Plying his trade for the Bengal cricket team, Abishek Porel tops the list in terms of the most dismissals (23) as a wicketkeeper. He has been sharp behind the stumps, taking 22 catches and affecting a solitary stumping. The 21-year-old has been pretty good with the bat, scoring 321 runs in 6 games at an average of 40.12 including 1 century and 2 fifties.
3. KB Arun Karthik: Representing the Pondicherry cricket team, KB Arun Karthik has delivered the goods ever so well as a wicketkeeper-batsman. The 37-year-old has taken 20 catches and has affected one stumping to his name. He ensured to live up to his reputation by scoring 338 runs in 6 games at an average of 33.8 including 1 century and 2 fifties.
4. Srinivas Sharath: Srinivas Sharath who represents the Karnataka cricket team comes next on the list of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. The 27-year-old right-handed batter scored 329 runs in 5 games at an average of 41.12 including 1 fifty. On the contrary, he has taken 19 catches and affected 2 stumpings.
5. Harvik Manishbhai Desai: The Saurashtra wicketkeeper has been excellent in terms of keeping the wickets in the ongoing tournament so far, taking 16 catches and affecting 6 stumpings. On the other hand, he scored 261 runs in six games at an average of 26.1 including 2 fifties.