A case for KL Rahul to open and Ishan Kishan to keep wicket

Pioneered by Adam Gilchrist, the new-age wicketkeeper doesn’t also bat; he bats first – preferably at a rapid pace - and also keeps. KL Rahul being bracketed as a wicketkeeper in the Test squad for South Africa suggests that it is one left-field option the team management is open to. Batting has been hard work on South African pitches – there were only two hundreds from both sides – by Rahul and Pant -- in the 2021-22 three-match series. The final call would be taken by coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Sharma in South Africa closer to the first Test starting on Boxing Day. “You would be putting too much pressure on Rahul by asking him to keep wicket in Tests, especially with the injury history that he has,” said former India wicketkeeper Kiran More.