Dinesh Karthik recently shared his thoughts on the potential inclusion of KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper for India in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final. Karthik indicated that Rahul might not be strongly inclined towards keeping wickets in Test matches, as the role demands a different skill set than in shorter formats. Karthik, an experienced wicketkeeper, emphasized the challenges and nuances of keeping in Test cricket.
Dinesh Karthik provided his perspective on the possibility of Rahul being selected as a wicketkeeper for the WTC finals. He said:
“I will see how Rahul feels because KL is not somebody who enjoys keeping in Test cricket because it is a completely different ball game. But I will keep that in the back of my mind. It is a beneficial option if KL is up for wicketkeeping.”
Despite being dropped from the playing XI before the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia due to underwhelming performances, KL Rahul’s commendable track record in overseas conditions could make him a viable option for India in the upcoming WTC final in London.
Having showcased exceptional form during India’s tour of England in 2021-22, Rahul emerged as one of India’s key performers, amassing 315 runs across four Tests, including a century and a half-century.
Dinesh Karthik favors Shubman Gill over KL Rahul for the WTC final, citing his century.
Dinesh Karthik believes India should stick with Shubman Gill in the WTC final, considering his recent century against Australia. Karthik thinks Gill has the potential to open for India in the most extended format for ten years or more. Gill reinforced this belief by scoring 128 runs in the first innings of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
If India loses or draws the fourth Test against Australia, they will not control their fate for the WTC final. In that case, Sri Lanka can reach the final by winning their ongoing series against New Zealand with a 2-0 margin.
