The countdown to the highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA and the IPL could serve as proving grounds for players aspiring to don their national jerseys at the showpiece event.
Indian top order batter Shubman Gill, who finished the previous season of the IPL with the orange cap, for ending as the season’s highest run scorer, and has started life as skipper of Gujarat Titans rather well.
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However, former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull feels that India should opt for a player like KL Rahul, who also provides an extra wicketkeeping option.
“He’s got a, you know, I mean, that spot up the top when you take in a World Cup 15. It should be 18 in my opinion,” Doull began.
The Kiwi pacer explained that the 15-man unit ideally has space for just one extra top-order batter and that it would be a bonus for the team if the player could also double-up as a wicketkeeping option.
“But when you’re taking that side and you’re picking it, you really only carry one extra top-order batter,” he explained.
“You’ve probably only room for one top-order replacement batter if it happens to be someone like KL Rahul, who can keep wickets for you. And that is a real bonus,” Doull reiterated.
Doull opined that Rahul’s ability with the gloves boosts his chance of selection as he could prove to be a utility for the team from behind the wickets.
“That top-order replacement batter, he keeps, Shubman doesn’t keep,” the former Kiwi pacer said.
Doull added that the top-order Gill is behind skipper Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli and young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal in the pecking order.
“And if he can’t make the side ahead of Jaiswal, Rohit and Virat at the moment, he probably doesn’t go,” Doull opined.
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