Dinesh Karthik made his way back into the national team after a stellar IPL 2022 season.
India will have three players who can fill the role of a wicket-keeper in the forthcoming two-match T20I series against Ireland, which begins on Sunday (June 26) in Dublin. However, former Indian cricketer Rohan Gavaskar has backed veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik to fill the role.
The Men in Blue will still have three options for wicket-keeping in the form of Dinesh Karthik, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan even without first-choice Indian stumper Rishabh Pant.
Gavaskar further asserts that India should play DK as a keeper-batsman while also starting the other two players.
In an interaction on Sports 18 show, Gavaskar said, "You can play all three of them, but in terms of wicketkeeping, I will go with DK and I will have Sanju Samson and Ishan in the playing XI. But behind the stumps, I will go with DK."
The ex-player, who appeared in 11 ODIs for India, also expressed his opinion on star batter Suryakumar Yadav. After missing the South Africa series due to injury, the Mumbai Indians player will soon make his T20I comeback.
"For me, he is one of the first names in the Indian T20 squad for the World Cup because he is such a versatile, such a fabulous cricketer. You want him to be in form and this is the right opportunity for him to get some matches under his belt and hopefully get some runs under his belt," says Gavaskar.
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The 46-year-old former cricketer also lavished praise on young speedster Umran Malik and appreciated his wicket-taking abilities along with his ability to clock 150 kmph on a regular basis.
"He was extremely impressive in the Indian T20 league (IPL), bowling absolute rockets when he had the ball. And not only was he just bowling rockets, he was picking up wickets and that's key."
"You can bowl as fast as you want, but if you don't pick up wickets, if you are not economical, then it doesn't make any difference how fast you are bowling. He seems like the whole package. We are all extremely eager and waiting, and excited to see him play for India," said Gavaskar.
Umran earned his maiden national call-up for the South Africa series after his impressive performance in the IPL 2022 but failed to make his way into the XI. He will be hoping to have the opportunity to represent India in the forthcoming two-match trip to Ireland.
(Sports 18 inputs)