Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat's role in the Test team. Since making his Test debut last year against Australia in Nagpur, Bharat has scored just 221 runs in seven matches, averaging a meagre 20.09. He is yet to score a half-century in the longest format of the game. Manjrekar feels since Bharat is not contributing much with the bat, the management should look at other alternatives. Manjrekar doesn't feel the management should invest more time in Bharat, especially with Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings.
"It's a lot like he's playing his first series. He's played before; he played all four Test matches against Australia, and Rishabh Pant is due to come any time soon. So, I am not sure whether it is worthwhile and makes sense to keep investing in KS Bharat. He's also not 20 years old, and India had moved on from KS Bharat and gone to Ishan Kishan. So he's done just enough to maybe just keep his place in the side. This team management believes in being fair to every individual, but I would personally look at another option before Rishabh Pant comes in and takes his place," Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar urged the management to focus on keepers who can contribute with the bat, rather than his glovework.
"India will start looking at KS Bharat whether his keeping is that good we can afford to have somebody who is not contributing as much with the bat... India of late and the world over, if you see is going for keepers who are decent keepers but contribute with the bat," he added.
India have not been able to finalise a wicketkeeper in the absence of Pant, who continues his recovery after suffering a life-threatening car crash in December 2022.
Pant has began light training and is expected to play some part in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was retained by Delhi Capitals during the mini auction last year.
Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2024 squad: Abhishek Porel, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Pravin Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull, Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara.