Former India chief selector MSK Prasad reckons that KS Bharat should be India’s first-choice wicket-keeper batter ahead of Ishan Kishan for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which will commence in Nagpur on February 9. As the regular wicket-keeper-batter Rishabh Pant is on the road to recovery after surviving a horrific car accident on December 30, Bharat and Ishan are the wicketkeeping options in the Indian squad for the Tests against Australia.

MSK Prasad stated that Bharat should be preferred to hand over the debut Test cap since he has been groomed as a specialist India A wicketkeeper in red-ball cricket. Both wicketkeepers have no Test experience, and India will have at least one debutant in the series opener.

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During a recent chat with The Telegraph, MSK Prasad said, “Bharat had been groomed and earmarked as India’s Test keeper since the time he played for India A. He tried to do his best in those matches and has done well overall in red-ball cricket. He has been waiting for his turn and it appears he’ll be getting it in the coming Test. As for Ishan, he needs to wait.”

KS Bharat, who has frequently played for India A and has a first-class average of 37.95, has long been Pant’s backup in the Test squad. Wriddhiman Saha dazzled with his keeping abilities when he was unable to take the gloves due to a stiff neck during India’s first Test match against New Zealand in Kanpur in November 2022.

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Explaining it further, MSK Prasad said, “One requires a different mindset altogether to be a wicketkeeper in Test matches. It’s not just about doing it for some 20 or 50 overs. You may have to stand behind the stumps for an entire day or more. I think such a situation may arise only if Bharat fails to make use of his opportunities. They can then think of other options.”