T20 World Cup 2024: One spot, four candidates - Fight for wicketkeeper-batter slot set to intensify

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T20 World Cup 2024: Gone are the days when India would worry about a wicket-keeper who could go bonkers with the bat. The arrival of MS Dhoni and his huge success changed the landscape of wicketkeeper-batters in Indian cricket.

IPL has also played a huge role. The opportunity to rub shoulders with international superstars at a young age and even before making India debut, has changed the outlook of many domestic players who understand the job better now. The BCCI should also be credited for making proper arrangements for high-quality matches for the U-19 and India A teams.

The same has led to a good headache for Team India management ahead of the approaching T20 World Cup 2023. As many as four wicketkeeper-batters are vying for that one spot in the squad which will travel for an event scheduled to be held in the USA and the West Indies in June.

Vidarbha's Jitesh Sharma slammed 35 runs off just 19 balls in Raipur on Friday to place his bet and make the competition even more exciting. The 30-year-old had a very good IPL 2023 season with the Punjab Kings (PBKS). He scored 309 runs in 14 matches at an average of 23.76 and a blistering strike rate of 156.06.

The right-hand batter looked like a man with plans, and getting into that T20 World Cup 2024 squad was definitely one of them. KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Sanju Samson are the three other contenders. None of them is featuring in the ongoing 5-match T20I series against Australia.

KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan were the one preferred for the just-concluded ODI World Cup. It won't be a surprise if the two are preferred before anyone in the country once again, but the next few months can change the dynamics sooner than expected.

In fact there will even between Rahul and Kishan. The latter had to warm the bench for the majority of World Cup 2023. The Patna-born star was in the the team as the third opener and second-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Being the number choice for the second role is the best way for him to make place in the playing eleven.

Sanju Samson and KL Rahul are missing from the squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa as well. India's next T20I assignment would be against Afghanistan in January at home. The real showdown will kick off with the start of the IPL 2024 which is expected to kick off from the third week of March.

Credentials will be at stake. KL Rahul would look to get rid of his tag of a slow-starter in the format. His strike rate in T20s has been under the scrutiny for a while. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson would eye for consistency and impactful, match-winning innings. Jitesh Sharma would have to do something really exceptional to pip these big names. The competition is truly on.