The players who are contenders for the finishing position in the Indian team are occupying middle-order slots in the IPL. Who will be selected as the wicketkeeper if Dinesh Karthik is not preferred by India?
As the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia approached, Dinesh Karthik was designated as the finisher for the Indian team, and the batting lineup was constructed accordingly. Nonetheless, there remains uncertainty regarding the player who will be entrusted with the task of guiding the team to victory in pressure-filled situations during the upcoming World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States.
While a few names immediately come to mind, these players are currently positioned in the middle or top order for their respective IPL teams, which means they are not consistently exposed to high-pressure moments in the final overs of an innings.
Considering India's reluctance to revert to Karthik given the current stage in his career, let us observe other potential contenders for the finisher role.
Hardik Pandya
During his initial tenure with the Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya batted in the middle-late order and transformed into a formidable player during the final stages of the innings. He also established himself as a reliable player in this role while representing India. In a match against Australia in Sydney in 2020, Pandya calmly struck 37 runs off just 18 balls, effortlessly clearing the long boundaries, and successfully led India to victory with 75 runs needed off 38 balls.
During that phase of his career, Pandya excelled as a finisher, displaying significant ability to effortlessly clear the boundary whenever required. According to power-hitting expert Julian Wood, Pandya possesses an excellent swing of the bat, a smooth and rhythmic bat flow, and impeccable timing. Additionally, he has exceptional wrist action, which allows him to maintain stability and generate power while striking the ball against the strong front side.
Yet, Hardik Pandya's effectiveness as a finisher began to decline significantly after 2020. While playing for the Gujarat Titans, he adopted a new approach as a middle-order batsman, initially focusing on consolidating the innings before launching an aggressive assault in the final overs. Due to a congested top order in his current stint with the Mumbai Indians, Hardik was compelled to revert to his previous role within the franchise.
Unfortunately, in three high-pressure chases against the Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Chennai Super Kings during the current season, Hardik has been unsuccessful in finishing the matches. Additionally, he appears to be struggling to clear the ball effectively right from the beginning of his innings.
Shivam Dube
Dube's batting style resembles that of Yuvraj Singh, and he possesses the power to hit the spinners with great force, sending the ball soaring. This season, he has been in spectacular form for the Chennai Super Kings, striking at a rate of 163.51 with an average of 60.50. While there were concerns in the past about his ability to handle fast-paced deliveries, his performance against Alzarri Joseph and Mohammed Siraj in the opening game against RCB was truly impressive.
Dube had some breathing space in that match due to a phenomenal start by Rachin Ravindra. His true test came when the team needed 117 runs in the final 10 overs against the Delhi Capitals, but he succumbed to the pressure and could only manage a score of 17 off 18 balls on a decent batting wicket.
It should be noted that Dube's average and strike rate significantly decreases when he bats lower down the order:
Rinku Singh
Who can forget Rinku's memorable achievement of hitting five sixes against the Gujarat Titans, which led the Kolkata Knight Riders to victory in a seemingly hopeless game? Although some doubted that his performance would be a one-time occurrence, Rinku consistently surprised everyone in the 2023 season by delivering in challenging situations. What's truly impressive about Rinku's batting is his calmness during the final overs and his ability to effortlessly hit boundaries against both spin and pace. He has a remarkable knack for finding gaps on either side of the field to score low-risk boundaries, but he also possesses the skill to take high-risk shots when necessary.
Rinku's great performances last year earned him a spot in the Indian team, where he lived up to expectations. But, the ongoing season for KKR hasn't gone as planned for him. With the majority of the work being done by the top order, there hasn't been much need for Rinku's contributions. And even when there has been a requirement, the management has turned to Andre Russell, who has regained his devastating form.
Finishers and Wicket-keepers
In a manner similar to 2022, the Indian top order is crowded with prominent players who are not adept at wicketkeeping. Consequently, it becomes necessary for the chosen wicketkeeper to possess finishing skills.
Ishan Kishan: This southpaw is a small but powerful player with the bat and also possesses useful wicketkeeping abilities in this format. It would require a bold selector to assign him a finishing role, as he has had limited experience in such a position for both his franchise and country.
Sanju Samson: The captain of the Rajasthan Royals has been involved with the Indian team and has shown inconsistent performances when placed in positions other than number three. Most of his success in the IPL has come from batting at number three, while his performance elsewhere has been average.
Rishabh Pant: Rishabh Pant, the captain of the Delhi Capitals, possesses the unique skill of hitting the ball in unexpected areas. Typically batting at either the fourth or fifth position for the Capitals, the 26-year-old is a strong contender to efficiently fulfil the finishing role in the upcoming event.
Jitesh Sharma: The wicketkeeper for the Punjab Kings showed promise in the previous season with his ability to finish matches. He has also been part of the Indian team recently. However, his performance record for India has been poor, and his IPL season thus far has been underwhelming. Additionally, frequent changes to his batting position have not worked in his favour.