Top 5 Indian wicketkeepers to watch out in IPL 2024 for T20 World Cup

Gone are the days when India was concerned about a wicketkeeper who could go crazy with the bat. IPL has also played a significant influence. The ability to rub shoulders with international superstars at an early age, even before making their India debut, has changed the viewpoint of many domestic players, who now have a better understanding of their roles.

With the IPL 2024 on the horizon, all eyes will be on Indian wicketkeepers in contention for a place in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024. There are many experienced and young Indian keepers in the 10 franchises and they all will look to give it their best to be picked in the Indian squad for the ICC event to be played in West Indies and the USA in June.

Here are the top five Indian wicketkeepers to watch out for in IPL 2024 for T20 World Cup:

5. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has been on the scene of the Indian team since 2015. He was once looked at as an understudy to MS Dhoni and was primed to take over from him. But the rise of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul taking the gloves as well pushed Samson down the pecking order. Pant established himself with the bat as well, while Rahul made himself indispensable in either skill.

But Sanju has persisted and finally made the most of the opportunity he got for the Indian team. He played a good knock for India in a T20I in Ireland and then again in the West Indies. He also scored his maiden ODI ton in South Africa recently. However, he still isn’t the favourite of the BCCI selectors. He will captain the Rajasthan Royals and would like to keep the wickets more despite the presence of Jos Buttler in the side. A good performance with the bat and the gloves in IPL 2024 might do a lot of good for Samson.

4. Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma forced his way into the Indian team on the back of some very good wicketkeeping and finishing abilities for Vidarbha and Punjab Kings in the IPL. Jitesh was preferred during the Afghanistan T20Is and the Australia T20Is over other keepers, which showed that the BCCI selectors wanted him to succeed.

Jitesh played some good knocks as well, contributing to finishing the matches. He has played 9 T20I, scoring 100 runs at a strike rate of 147.05. Jitesh will hope that he gets some more opportunities to showcase his batting skills for Punjab Kings in the IPL 2024 so that he can make a stronger case for the India team in T20 World Cup 2024.

3. Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan has suddenly fallen down the pecking order in India’s plans for the white-ball cricket. He last played three T20Is against Australia at home after the World Cup finished. He then asked for a break but was sent to South Africa for the T20I series. However, he didn’t play any matches in the series and then flew back home citing a mental health break.

Since then, Kishan has been focusing on his mental health and enjoying his break. He hasn’t played any cricket and was not picked for home T20Is against Afghanistan or the England Tests. Kishan will mostly return to action with the IPL 2024 where he will keep wickets for Mumbai Indians. A good outing with the bat and keeping skills will help Kishan move ahead of his competitors for the T20 World Cup contention.

2. KL Rahul

Veteran KL Rahul will also be in contention for the keeper-batter spot in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. In the absence of Rishabh Pant, Rahul excelled in the role of keeper and middle-order batter in 2023 in ODIs for India. He even pipped Ishan Kishan as the first-choice keeping option for the World Cup 2023 and had a gala time both with the bat and with the gloves.

He will be captaining the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024 and is expected to bat in the middle order and even keep wickets instead of Quinton de Kock. This will help him push his case to be included in the T20I squad of the Indian team, a format, where he has not played for a long time. 

1. Rishabh Pant

All eyes in the IPL 2024 will be on Rishabh Pant, who is set to make his cricketing comeback in the tournament. Pant has been recovering and rehabbing since his car accident in December 2022. He was seen hitting some balls in the nets in Bengaluru at the NCA. He has recovered brilliantly and the hope is that he will come fully fit for the Delhi Capitals as captain in the upcoming IPL season.

However, it remains to be seen whether Rishabh is fit enough for the rigours of wicketkeeping. He has undergone knee surgery after the accident and keeping puts a lot of strain on his knees. If he doesn’t keep for DC in IPL 2024, it will be interesting whether the BCCI selectors pick him in the Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2024. But his return will be more welcomed whether he is picked or not, given the accident he was involved in.