'We are moving on' - MSK Prasad names India's first choice and backup keepers going ahead

MS Dhoni’s future has been one of the talking points since Sourav Ganguly has taken the reign as BCCI’s President. The 38-year-old Dhoni is on the ledge of his career, with diminishing returns as a batsman although still being the best wicketkeeper in the country. However, following a long hiatus, with India playing Test cricket, talks of Dhoni’s retirement has been imminent.

Ganguly announced that he would talk with Virat Kohli and the management before taking any decision in regards to the former Indian skipper. India’s chief selector MSK Prasad has come out and declared that the youngster Rishabh Pant would be the first choice keeper for the future, with Sanju Samson being considered as an alternative option.

Pant is the future: MSK Prasad

“We are moving on, we are very clear. Post World Cup we have been clear. We started backing (Rishabh) Pant and wanted to see him do well. He may not have had the best of matches but we are clear, we are focusing on him only,” MSK Prasad said as quoted by Times of India.

The series against Bangladesh would be the third consecutive series that Dhoni would be missing since his sabbatical from cricket following India’s exit from the 2019 World Cup. Dhoni was seen in the dressing room recently after the Third Test that India played against South Africa, where he was seen talking to his fellow state mate Shahbaz Nadeem.

“We’re looking at younger options after the World Cup, so you can understand our thought process. We definitely had a chat with Dhoni and he also endorses our view of backing youngsters,” added the Indian selector.

Prasad, further, added that Samson is one of the best alternatives available in the country following his outings in the 2019 IPL and his continued form in the domestic circuit. This would be the second time that Samson has featured in the squad in recent times, with the last time not being in favour of Kerala’s keeper.

“Sanju Samson has been included as a proper batsman, Pant will continue as wicketkeeper. Sanju’s problem 3-4 years back was inconsistency. Now he has improved.” concluded MSK Prasad.

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