“He will become a very useful player” Ishant Sharma on importance of Kl Rahul for the upcoming World Cup 2023.

Experienced Indian fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, emphasized the significance of KL Rahul for Team India in the ODI format, especially considering the potential absence of Rishabh Pant in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently provided a medical report on the current status of injured players. KL Rahul has resumed batting in the nets, while Rishabh Pant has also begun batting and keeping in the nets. However, it is unlikely that Pant will return to competitive cricket anytime soon.

During a discussion on JioCinema, Ishant was asked about his views on KL Rahul potentially being the wicketkeeper-batter in India’s ODI setup for the World Cup. In response, Ishant expressed his confidence in Rahul’s wicketkeeping abilities and suggested that he could be a valuable contributor to the team’s batting lineup, particularly in the fourth or fifth position.

Ishant Sharma said “Absolutely, if Rishabh Pant is not there, that slot becomes very important. He (Rahul) was batting at No. 4 or No. 5 in any case and scoring runs. If you don’t have a wicketkeeper, you can play an extra batter and give the wicketkeeper’s role to KL Rahul. So, obviously, he will become a very useful player in the ODI format.”