Aakash Chopra urged the Indian cricket team management to be patient with KS Bharat and assess him primarily on his wicketkeeping skills during the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
There have been talks that Bharat might lose his spot in Team India’s playing XI to Dhruv Jurel in the upcoming third Test match against England, starting on February 15 in Rajkot.
Citing the notions, Chopra pointed out the inconsistency in how India has handled Test wicketkeepers recently and how quickly they lost trust in Bharat, despite the fact that he did so well behind the stumps.
The 30-year-old made his Test debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year after Rishabh Pant’s car accident ruled him out of the action. However, Bharat was not part of India’s West Indies and South Africa tours last year, but he was brought back for the home Test series against England.
Well, Bharat hasn't made big contributions with the bat yet, but he has received praise for his wicketkeeping skills, and the team management picked him as a specialist wicketkeeper, so Chopra feels it would not be fair to drop his hand debut cap to Jurel.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “I’m hearing news that Dhruv Jurel might make his Test debut in Rajkot. I am thinking if it's right or wrong. If you ask me personally, I think KS Bharat should be judged first based on his wicketkeeping. And whatever we have seen of him, I don't find anything bad. He is doing a good job.”
Backing Bharat to play in the Rajkot Test, Chopra said: “These are difficult pitches, that's why you (the team management) said you won't keep wickets with KL Rahul. You said you wanted a specialist keeper. So, in that specialist keeper's role, he is fulfilling his duty. In Hyderabad, he played well in both the innings. In fact, in the second innings, had he batted a bit longer, India would have gone on to win the match. I will be a little disappointed... I think he should play this match."
The commentator added, "You have to look at a keeper as a keeper, you have three spinners, all three of them are batters, if Jadeja returns. I would be slightly disappointed if India lost confidence in KS Bharat quite quickly. It has happened in the past. He played the World Test Championship final, then you to the West Indies, you changed your game, and there Ishan Kishan played as wicketkeeper. There has been a lack of continuity since Rishabh Pant's injury.”
He signed off by saying, “So, I think the team management should be a little patient. KS Bharat should get at least one more Test. I would want him to play all 5 Tests. But if batting is that important, at least give him one more match.”
