'Youngsters will find it tough to fill Dhoni's shoes'

KL Rahul looks first-choice keeper in white-ball for now, say Mongia, Prasad, Dasgupta

Rishabh Pant will feel a weight off his shoulders after Mahendra Singh Dhoni's international retirement but the immensely talented KL Rahul is the likely first choice in white-ball cricket for the foreseeable future, feel three former India wicket-keepers.

Nayan Mongia, MSK Prasad and Deep Dasgupta agreed in unison that at present it will be a two-horse race between Rahul and Pant with Sanju Samson adding a third dimension but somewhat distantly remaining in fringes.

"KL, I think will be first choice in 50 overs. 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," Mongia, one of India's finest wicket-keepers, said on Sunday.

While Dasgupta agreed with Mongia, he feels the team could be 'format flexible' on using Rahul and Pant.

"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. 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," Dasgupta, who has extensively covered Indian cricket in past few years as a broadcaster, said.

Dilip Vengsarkar, former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chairman said that youngsters will find it tough to fill in Dhoni's shoes owing to his huge contribution to the sport.

Vengsarkar, who was chief selector, when Dhoni was first appointed as the captain for 2007 T20 World Cup said, "Somebody has to replace him. Youngsters will get opportunities. It's difficult to fill in his shoes as his contribution was huge. He was not only a great player but one of the finest captains that India has ever seen. "

"When we picked him as the captain, we were impressed by his aggressiveness. His behaviour on and off the field was impeccable. We picked him for captaincy in 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa. India won the tournament," he added.

He further recalled, "After that, of course, we appointed Anil Kumble as captain for Test team in Australia and Dhoni as ODI captain during the same tour. It was for the first time that India won against Australia. That was a big thing for us. Dhoni went on to do a very good job after that."

On the timing of Dhoni's retirement, Vengsarkar observed, "There's not much cricket in next one year. Therefore, he might have thought that it was time to retire. He always played on his own merit and was an outstanding cricketer. As captain, perhaps he was the best we ever had."

For Prasad, who recently was head of the selection committee, also agrees that KL will have a slight edge but Rishabh will be there in the mix.

"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," said Prasad.

So where does it leave Pant? Prasad and Dasgupta feel that Dhoni's retirement should make Pant breathe easier.

"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," Dasgupta asserted.

For Prasad, Pant can now be "Rishabh rather than being Mahi Junior".

"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," Prasad said.

Mongia, however, feels that there will be pressure and that's a good a thing for young Pant.

"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," Mongia said.