T20WC 2020: 5 Indian wicket-keepers who might audition for the T20 World Cup in upcoming IPL

The T20 World Cup will be played in Australia from 18 October 2020.

The IPL 2020 schedule was recently released by the BCCI and it sees the 13^th edition of the most popular and richest T20 league of the world, starting from March 29. This season will be of high importance as many of the Indian players will be auditioning for the ICC T20 World Cup to be played in Australia.

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The IPL franchises spent loads of money in buying and retaining players in the auction which took place in December last year. The two-month-long T20 league will have the selectors looking at all the Indian players quite closely, as there are some spots to be filled in the squad as well. One of those spots is that of the wicketkeeper.

The majority of the franchises have Indian wicketkeepers in their arsenal and every one of them will be auditioning for the spot in the spot for the upcoming ICC event.

Here are 5 Indian wicketkeepers who might audition for ICC T20 World Cup in IPL

SANJU SAMSON (Rajasthan Royals)

Sanju Samson recently made a comeback into the Indian team after about five years. He has been a regular contributor to his IPL sides over the years. In 93 IPL matches, he has scored 2209 runs with 2 centuries and 10 fifties at a strike rate of 130.24 and an average of 27.61.

Samson has broken into the Indian team, but has not been able to cement his place, even when Rishabh Pant was replaced due to form and injury, the management opted for KL Rahul to keep wickets. This can also be blamed on Samson wasting the opportunities to impress with the bat despite being asked to opening the batting.

However, a very good IPL season for Rajasthan Royals might give Samson another chance, which he would look to grab with both hands.   

ISHAN KISHAN (Mumbai Indians)

Ishan Kishan can term himself unlucky to a level, given that every other wicketkeeper-batsman has been given a chance in the national team, but he has been unable to make a dent at the national team’s door. The youngster will turn out for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 and so far in 37 matches in the league, he has scored 695 runs with three fifties.

Kishan has been impressive in T20 cricket overall with 1714 runs in 76 matches with two centuries and seven half-centuries at a strike rate of 130.83. Kishan needs to have a bumper IPL 2020 to make the selectors take notice of him and give him a ticket to Australia for the T20 World Cup.

DINESH KARTHIK (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Dinesh Karthik has immortalized himself in Indian cricket’s folklore thanks to his amazing knock in the Nidahas T20 tri-series final against Bangladesh. The 34-year-old veteran has been a staple of the IPL since its inception in 2008 and is now the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders for the past two seasons.

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He was a regular member of the Indian team in limited-overs for the past two years but was dropped from the team in the aftermath of ICC World Cup 2019 and though having an inexperienced middle order, the Indian team management has not recalled Karthik to bolster the side with his experience.

He has a stellar record in T20s with 5708 runs in 288 matches with 29 fifties at a strike rate of 132.92. In IPL, he has 3654 runs in 182 matches at a strike rate of 129.80 with 18 half-centuries to his name. An amazing outing with the bat for KKR and possibly taking them to the title might help Karthik make a comeback into the team for the T20 World Cup.    

MS DHONI (Chennai Super Kings)

MS Dhoni has already started getting ready for his audition in the IPL 2020. He has not played any cricket since his last outing for Men in Blue in the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2019 and despite speculations from all corners, didn’t make himself available for any series in the home season.

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Indian head coach Ravi Shastri clarified that for Dhoni to make a comeback into the Indian team for the T20 World Cup in Australia, he needs to have more than a stellar outing in the IPL 2020. In 190 IPL matches, he has 4432 runs with 23 fifties at a strike rate of 137.85 and an average of 42.20 with the highest score of 84*.

He took CSK to the title in 2018 and to the finals in 2019 where they fell one run short to Mumbai Indians. The 38-year-old has done things his way without listening or getting influenced by anyone and might want to end his stellar international career on a high and that could be winning the T20 World Cup for India, once again and taking a victory lap at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

RISHABH PANT (Delhi Capitals)

Rishabh Pant has not had a great year in 2019, despite being given every chance to replace MS Dhoni in the Indian team. Dhoni has not played any international cricket since the 2019 World Cup and Pant despite all his talent and skills, failed to make the most of all the chances he got.

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Indian team management has also seemed to look elsewhere for the wicketkeeping spot and gave that to KL Rahul against ODIs in Australia and on the limited-overs tour to New Zealand. Pant has also lost his spot in the Test team as well, as Saha came back fitter and better.

However, Pant can still turn things around if he shows he still has the confidence and form in the upcoming IPL for Delhi Capitals with consistent performances and not just one or two spectacular innings.

If he manages to do so and make consistent contributions to his team’s cause, Pant may very well gain back the confidence of the management and selectors and book his ticket to the T20 World Cup in Australia.