MS Dhoni's international retirement put end to an era in Indian cricket and opened doors for the start of a new dawn, with the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and others now bound to get their due chances to try and fill the big shoes of the great wicketkeeper batsman.
Aware of the nice selection headache that the selectors and the team management now have up their sleeves, three former India gloveman, Nayan Mongia, MSK Prasad and Deep Dasgupta, went about picking their first-choice replacement to Dhoni in the limited-overs game.
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Speaking to PTI, interestingly all agreed that it wouldn't as much be a three-way battle, as Samson, they think, is lower in the pecking order than Pant and Rahul.
“KL, I think will be first choice in 50 overs," said Mongia, who played 44 Tests and 140 ODIs for the country. "Whatever I have seen of KL, he hasn’t been bad behind the stumps and also once he started keeping, his batting form improved in white ball cricket. On form, KL will be my first choice and after that you can look at Rishabh and give him chances."
Dasgupta, however, thinks coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli can be flexible with regards to the usage of Pant and Rahul depending on the format.
"Look, in T20s, I believe both can play in the XI. But given a choice, KL will be my man for the time at least in T20s," he said.
“However in 50 over format, may be team management and selectors can speak to him and see he wants to do it long term till 2023 World Cup and bat at No 5 which is a critical slot in the middle-order," added former the Test keeper-turned-broadcaster.
Prasad, the chairman of the previous senior selection committee, agreed that Rahul will be preferred over Pant for the time being, given that he did replace the latter last season at home and on tour to New Zealand.
“If you go by New Zealand series, the last one we played, KL starts as first choice and Sanju is also there but as third choice. He did well and gives that flexibility to play extra batsman or bowler as per conditions. But yes, after five months, everyone starts from scratch and IPL form will be important," he said.
While there is no real end to competition for Pant, a mighty fine talent, who fights for the wicketkeeper's slot even in Tests with Wriddhiman Saha, Dasgupta thinks Dhoni's retirement will give him some more breathing space.
"Don’t forget that the constant comparisons with Dhoni would have weighed a lot on his young mind. It doesn’t help in getting performances with that pressure. So now, he is free and can express himself in the best possible manner. But yes, he also needs to mature a bit as a player."
Prasad added, "Indian cricket has invested in Rishabh Pant over the last few years. We have seen best and worst of Pant in these years. He is someone who will serve Indian cricket for a long time provided he is groomed properly."
"This IPL will also prove where each one stands in terms of form and fitness. But I agree that Rishabh needs to be given a fair go before you think of anyone else."
The pressure of replacing a player of Dhoni's class should be weighed into the equation, felt Mongia.
"It’s huge boots to fill in and rightly so. You don’t get MS Dhonis everyday. So Pant will get his opportunity and let him prove his mettle. I am sure that the team management will give him enough chances. He has potential and now what he will do with the chances is up to him," he asserted.
