3 Wicketkeepers who can replace MS Dhoni behind the wickets after CWC 2019

MS Dhoni will certainly go down as one of the finest white-ball players and one of the best wicketkeepers to have ever played for India. He has done exceptionally well and has carried the team for 15 years. In international cricket, the former Indian skipper has amassed 16,729 runs (at an average of almost 45), has taken 621 catches and affected 189 stumpings.

However, the Ranchi-born player has struggled in the recent past. In his presence, there haven’t been a lot of wicket-keepers who have got a chance. The 2019 World Cup has been touted to be Dhoni’s swansong. Hence, there are a few options who can replace India’s most successful captain. Here are three players who can don the gloves after the mega event (CWC 2019).

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan has been in the spotlight for a while now. He led the Under-19 team to the final of the World Cup in 2016 in Bangladesh and since then, there has constantly been an eye on the Jharkhand wicket-keeper.

Kishan had a very good start to this 2018-19 domestic season. He started off with a bang in the Deodhar Trophy as he struck one hundred and one fifty in three games, finishing the tournament with 188 runs (at 62.67) which came at a strike-rate of 112.57. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored 405 runs (at 45.00) in 9 innings at a strike-rate of 111.57. The left-hander played just four Ranji games due to his India ‘A’ assignments but he struck three fifties in those four games as well.

He has been in and around the India ‘A’ teams as well in the recent past and has done well. He got starts in the series in New Zealand while in the recent game against England Lions, his unbeaten 57 helped his team chase down 286.

Kishan has also been good behind the stumps. There have been very few instances where he has fluffed opportunities. Hence, he could well be one of the candidates to replace MS Dhoni after the World Cup later this year.

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has been around for a while now. In fact, he made his debut in both ODIs and Tests before MS Dhoni did. However, Dhoni’s consistency and impact with the bat pushed him behind the line. But Karthik did play as a pure batsman as well but has constantly been in and out of the side.

Not a lot has changed over the years. The Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper batsman is still in and around the team. In fact, he’s failed to stay put in his position (as a pure batsman) and his batting slot has also been shuffled a lot. He was recently given the No. 6 role in Australia where he did well. But he was once again left out after the series.

Hence, there might be a possibility that once Dhoni departs, Karthik might be given the role of the finisher and also the gloves. He played that sort of role in the IPL last year and may continue to do it this year. Thus, Karthik may finally get his opportunity with the gloves and may get a longer rope.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is certainly touted to be a future star. He’s had a rousing start to his international career, especially Test cricket. While he might not have taken the world by storm in the shorter formats, he has certainly raised his game and has performed well in Test cricket. He has already scored centuries against quality attacks in England and Australia.

However, he hasn’t got a lot of opportunities in the shorter forms but has shown what he is capable of with the bat. He can take the attack to the opposition and change the course of a game in the space of a few deliveries. His glovework has constantly been improving. When he made his debut, he was criticised for some poor work behind the stumps, but over the last few months, he has shown considerable improvement.

Thus, he is regarded as MS Dhoni’s successor behind the stumps and looks all set to don the gloves once the Ranchi player retires.

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