Dighe presents four additional alternatives, but Mongia wants Pant to be the goalie for the T20 World Cup

There is fierce rivalry for the two wicketkeeper-batsman positions on Team India for the T20 World Cup in June, which will take place in the USA and the West Indies.

Six “keepers” are vying for a spot in the Indian squad: Rishabh Pant (342 after nine IPL games), Sanju Samson (314 runs), KL Rahul (302), Dinesh Karthik (251), Ishan Kishan (192), and Jitesh Sharma (128), who have played in eight games.

Ajit Agarkar’s national selection committee has a significant challenge in light of the dominant performances of the wicketkeepers, who are also formidable batsmen, according to former India wicketkeepers Nayan Mongia and Sameer Dighe.

The 54-year-old Mongia, who played for his nation in the ODI World Cups in 1996 and 1999, wants Delhi Capitals captain Pant to hold wickets if he is well enough for the significant task.

I’ll accompany Rishabh if he’s well enough. It is up to the selectors and team management to determine how much psychologically and physically prepared he is to play at a higher level since I don’t know.

“Samson [the captain of the Rajasthan Royals], who can play as an opener at No. 3 and middle-order, will be my backup plan. He has also been doing really well, Mongia said on Wednesday midday from Baroda.

Pant hasn’t participated in an ICC competition since his accident in December 2022.

Rahul’s limited utility as an opener, in Mongia’s opinion, might work against him when the selectors decide on the final lineup. It all relies on who opens for Rahul to get a spot on the squad. In the event that the team management chooses to start Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as openers, Rahul would struggle since Samson is also an option. In T20 cricket, Rahul is unable to play in the middle order, according to Mongia.

based in Mumbai Dighe, 55, stated that the selection committee should choose a “keeper-batsman” based on current form. Dighe played for India in six Test matches and 23 ODIs. Dighe said that “any two of Rahul, Samson, Kishan, and Jitesh will make it into the World Cup squad.”

Mumbai’s 1999–2000 Ranji Trophy-winning captain, when questioned about Pant’s prospects, said: “In the end, the selection process is about trust and backing.” These [four] men, in my opinion, are capable of delivering.”