Best T20I WK Batsman for India – An Analysis

Here we are again in an attempt to unravel and peel off the layers of one of the most critical questions if not the most, regarding the Indian Cricket Team especially with a view towards the 2024 T20 WC. Who is the answer to the question for the best T20I WK batsman for India.

Over the past couple of T20 World Cups, and otherwise as well, India has experimented with a whole of options for the T20I WK Batsman position, but still the matter stands where it was a couple of years back. The experimentation is still on with no answers in sight. At least it seems that way as far as selectors are concerned.

Context for Best T20I WK Batsman for India

Umpteen number of players with the particular skill set of WK Batsman have been tried over the past few years across formats but more so with in the T20 format. There seems to be no method or manner in the way these experiments have been done. Some decisions seems to be driven by media hype, some by IPL hype and some by the hype created by broadcasters in general without an eye for any logical reasoning or plan to try out the players.

Across batting positions, there are quite a few “options” with this skill set who have promised at some stage or the other to possess the talent to make it big. It is understandable that within a short frame of time you cannot provide all the prospects with the same amount chances. But considering we have been at this for few years now, if we had planned this 2,3 years in advance with reasonable foresight, we would have had some answers now. Even answers like whom to not look at for near future at least.

So, here we will attempt to find some answers if we can. If we cannot we will surely come up with a blueprint for the future to start finding those answers based on data.

The Prospects

Based on the pool of players (IPL and T20Is) following is a good list of prospects for the best T20I WK Batsman (considering all are available and fit)

• KL Rahul
• Ishan Kishan
• Rishabh Pant
• Jitesh Sharma
• Sanju Samson
• Dhruv Jurel

We will go in the details of each data and context wise to expose the selection anomalies and who can actually be shown the trust to fill the position especially keeping the upcoming WC in mind.

The Deep Dive

First of all, how many WK batsman can we play in the X1? Lets look at each one of them individually first.

KL Rahul

If at all, we have place for just one then the discussion is irrelevant because in terms of numbers there is no beating KL Rahul whether he plays at the top or in the middle order. Unless, Rahul has something on his mind close to what he did in the ODI WC final (read here), it would be impossible to pip him for the role.

• Apart from 4 innings, Rahul has only batted in top 3. Even at no. 3, it is only a few matches. Practically has played only as an opener.
• Has good numbers to show befitting a top order player but there is no space at the top at the moment for a WK batsman in T20Is.
  It is even more crowded considering that in all probability Rohit Sharma will lead the side in 2024.
  Even at no. it is difficult as it seems, Kohli is not going anywhere at least till the 2024 T20 WC.
  How much match winning impact he has playing as an opener is a different topic for debate altogether.
  His overall avg of 37.75 and SR of 139.12 is way ahead of other prospects who were given chances in the top 4.
• Rahul has played 4 matches in the middle order with an impressive avg of 87 and SR of 175.75, including a century.
  So his real value and impactful contribution can be seen in the middle order in T20Is and that is where he should be played.

So if we have only one possible position for a WK batsman, Rahul is the sole prospect who could fit the “Best T20I WK Batsman” for India. If there is a place for another WK Batsman in the X1, then it does not remain a decision solely based on wicket keeping skills. The competition then becomes as to who is the best option either at 4 (that is the highest position anyone can play at till Sharma and Kohli are there) or as basher lower down at 6 or 7 (where again it tough because most probably 5,6 would be between Surya and KL and someone like Jadega at 7).

For the sake of the discussion we will assume that we can play a WK batsman say at 4 or have one as backup for Rahul, or if the reports of Kohli being replaced at no.3 turns out to be true.

Ishan Kishan

Lets take a look at the current poster boy for this position (since Pant’s accident).

In T20Is

• Batted at no. 6 in only one match. Rest all in top 3. So he has been given more than enough chances at his position to prove himself.
• Scored 50+ in first innings and then in 9th, 11th, 13th, 30th, 31st. Took 17 innings top of the order to score 50+ in between 13th and 30th innings but still was given chances. We are not saying that it was wrong to give him chances but on the contrary highlighting that chances should be given for a decent run before coming to a conclusion.
• Has a staggering dot ball percentage of over 50%. This is criminal in T20s and his overall SR does not show that he makes up for lot of those dot balls later on.
• India played 21 T20I series since his debut and he was part of 15 of those. Was part of 10 consecutive series after debut where he played 19 out of total of 38 matches. So enough faith has been shown in him since the start.
• 7 times out of 32 he scored 30+ runs with SR greater than 130
• His stats do not befit a top order player at all. If we believe some reports that he is being looked into to replace Kohli at no. 3, it will be absurd and a disaster of epic proportions. Kohli has an above 50 avg and a SR of 137+ over such an extended period. How can this be even called a replacement?
• Anybody who has watched Kishan would know that he does not have many shots in his armory. Skill set is limited and has been for quite a while.
• Since he has been given a decent run of chances he should now be only looked at if all other options are exhausted.
• Surely Ishan Kishan does not look like any where close to being India’s best T20I WK Batsman.

In IPL

• IPL numbers are average to say the least. Its not burning a hole by any means. Not bad but not something which will force you to sit up and take note.
• 50+ every 6 innings.
• No 100s despite so many matches indicates the failure to convert big.
• SR is good but not something you associate with an aggressive top order player. Rahul has better SR than this.

Rishabh Pant

Lets now delve into the original poster boy. Rishabh Pant, once he is fit will surely walk into the squad if not the XI by any chance. Part of the reason is the hype around him due to his perceived potential and also because of his Test exploits. But, as far as international white ball is concerned, over this prolonged period, such numbers should be worrying for anyone. But he still makes the cut. Lets take a look at his T20I numbers.

In T20Is

• In 18 matches batted at 5 or 6 otherwise rest all in top 4 (48 matches)
• Since WI series in 2018, played 21 out of 26 series that team India played.
• Despite so many continuous chances only has a SR of 120 something and avg of 20 something to show.
• Consecutively played 22 T20Is without being dropped a single match for India. with an avg of 19.7 and SR of 125.8 mostly batting at number 3 and 4. Despite this poor run, still given umpteen chances and was continuously selected for 40 more T20Is.
• After the poor run (22 matches), continued to be selected in 13 of the 18 T20I series India played
• 6 times he has scored 30+ with SR of 130+
• With these numbers, Pant doesn’t even seem eligible enough to compete even with Ishan Kishan forget about being the best T20I WK batsman for India.
• Classic case like Shardul Thakur where he is being dragged in white ball teams because of his red ball exploits.
• Since he has been given enough chances now (and all chances have been at the position that he normally plays in), he should be left alone for a while unless he does something in IPL or domestic T20 which is head and shoulders above other prospects.
• Again, not the best T20I WK batsman for India.

In IPL

• Mostly batted at 4 (52 innings)
• Most impactful at no.3 (Avg 38, SR 170)
• IPL numbers are good and better than Kishan but he has no where been close to this in T20Is despite getting to play in his position. He can still be considered a prospect if no one else is able to convert it in T20Is for India.

Jitesh Sharma

Most recent entrant to the prospects list. No offence to Jitesh but it is simply unfathomable as to what gap selectors are trying to fill out by trying him. If you just want to have some options for longer term in case such a gap opens up, then why try a 30 old and not a fresh blood youngster instead. By the time such a gap opens up, if it does, Jitesh will be on the wrong side of the age to be a long term prospect for India.

In T20Is

• Has mostly played at no. 6. One innings at 4. Nothing great to show thus far for Internationals.

In IPL

• Better numbers than internationals and quite good for the position he bats at but long way to go in internationals.
• Bats lower down and there is technically no space at 6 or 7 for a WK Batsman currently who can just play as a lower order basher.
• One simply cannot understand selector’s rationale behind this experimentation. It just does not server any purpose in the current context.
• Definitely not the best T20I WK Batsman for India.

Sanju Samson

In T20Is

• Not great numbers by any stretch for sure.
• After a sole debut match, chance was given after 5 years (25 series)
• At max he has played 3 series on the trot and that too one match here and one match there
• Despite being a top order batsman he has batted in top 3 only in 6 matches
• Took 6 innings in top 3 to score first 50+ plus score. These 6 innings came over a period of 7 years with an avg of 23 and SR of 160
• 4 times scored 30+ with SR of more than 130, 3 out of those at no.4 or below batting out of position
• Till 2022 there were only 2 series in which he played all the matches and those 2 series were also in a span of 2 years
• Almost all of the chances he has got, he has been made to bat out of position, which was not the case with other prospects as we saw with Kishan and Pant.

In IPL

• Has batted mostly in the top 3 and his best numbers are when batting in top 3.
• At no. 3 he has an avg of 37 and SR of 141
• But rarely he gets to bat in his position when it comes to international matches.

Dhruv Jurel

New kid on the block with a lot of promise.

• Batted 5 (only once at 5) and below and majority at 6 and below. Great impact considering his experience and batting position.
• Could turn out to be a perfect lower order basher for a quite sometime ahead if such a gap does come up in team India in the near future. With time he could even be groomed and promoted up in the order if need arises.
• Long, long way to go before even coming close to being the best T20I WK Batsman

Useful Insights (Cross comparisons) and Way Forward

So the crux of the matter is, if there is only one position for WK batsman, KL will pip everybody else no matter the batting position. If there is place for one more then there are following two scenarios:

• Top-middle (no. 3,4)
  • For this basically the standoff is among Kishan, Pant and Samson.
• Middle-Lower order (no. 6,7)
  • It is basically between Jitesh and Dhruv Jurel as of now.

Kishan – Pant – Samson

Unfortunately none of these 3 have really turned it on in internationals. In IPL all three have comparable numbers with Pant slightly ahead and Kishan slightly behind. However following are important considerations to keep in mind.

Of all the 3, looking at the skill level, Samson clearly has more all round game and skill as far as range of shots and technique is concerned, and he is the one who has not been given a fair continuous run at the international level.

As far as IPL is concerned, Samson has more bigger scores than other two which makes more impact on a match basis than consistently scoring lower scores. e.g. if someone scores 90 runs in 3 matches scoring 30 in each match at 135 SR, will hardly make a telling impact in either of the 3 matches. But if someone scores 10, 20 and 60 in 3 matches, the 60 is sure to make an actual impact in the match.

So, with comparable stats of avg and SRs, we need to look at who can make an impact in more matches. Who has more propensity to convert scores to bigger impactful scores?

Samson clearly has an edge there. Not to say that he will solve all the problems and fill all the gaps but he deserves a fair chance as well as the other two before we can say that he could not convert.

Kishan and Pant surely have got their share of chances in their preferred positions and still have not done much better than Samson who has not got many regular chances and whatever he has got he has had to bat out of his preferred position.

Jitesh – Dhruv

This should be a no brainer looking at the future. If lower order is the position that needs looking into then just show faith in the youngster and give him a fair run. Dhruv Jurel should be the choice here for future proofing.

Way Forward

Nothing much can be done for the 2024 T20 World Cup but for the longer term, give Samson a continuous run of 20-25 matches to bat in his position and then take a call. If by that time either Kishan or Pant are making waves, they can be tried again and given a second decent run, otherwise someone much younger should be roped in. It would be criminal in today’s fast world if the same players are given chances again and again without them converting those while hoards of others are deprived of even a decent run. And there should be long term thinking into this, not series by series myopic vision.

If we do not have anyone right now then we should have a plan to find the best T20I WK Batsman in the next 2 years before the 2026 T20 WC.

Summary

So then who is India’s best T20I WK Batsman? Unfortunately we do not have a clear answer to that but the bigger problem is there does not seem to be a planned effort to find India’s best T20I WK Batsman or the next best.