3 possible backup Indian wicketkeepers for World Cup 2019

With less than a year left for the ICC World Cup 2019, the selectors along with BCCI are gearing up to make the best possible squad to make sure the Indian Team goes all the way to lift the coveted trophy for the third time. Indian fans around the world are eager to see how Kohli leads the side in England and Wales in his first World Cup as the captain.

The selectors need to resolve a plethora of problems the current team is facing at present. Who would be the sixth bowling option? Who would be the most suitable choice as the fourth number batsman?

With MS Dhoni nearing the back end of his career, the management needs to find an appropriate replacement for him. At 37, Dhoni is still going strong as a wicketkeeper and a strategist, but his batting skills have started deteriorating a little, and maybe the time has come to give a young wicketkeeping-batsman an opportunity at the big stage.

Here are three fitting players who can become the best option as the backup wicketkeeper and even an alternative to MS Dhoni at sporadic occasions.

Honourable Mentions: KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan

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#3 Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson came to limelight with his stellar performances in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals in 2013. The 23-year old remains the youngest batsman to score 1000 runs in the IPL. Moreover, he is the youngest cricketer to captain a Ranji trophy side with Kerala.

Sanju broke into the national side in 2014 but remained as the backup keeper to MS Dhoni. Making his international T20 debut against Zimbabwe in July 2015, Samson is one of the most sought-after young batsmen in India today.

Australian Legend Shane Warne was all praise for Samson

He’s good against pace and spin in all conditions and I think he’s going to be the next superstar of Indian cricket. He’s the new rock star, Sanju Samson that’s for sure. He’s an outstanding player and he’s a quality international cricketer. India at the moment is blessed with some riches of talent, I think our man Sanju Samson is right up there with Pant. I think those two guys are probably the two best young Indian batsmen I’ve seen in a long, long time.

The on-off career of Sanju Samson took another beating when he failed to make it into the India-A squad for the England tour after a poor show in the yo-yo test. Highly regarded by Indian experts including Rahul Dravid, Samson still has time to work on his fitness to have another chance to represent the senior team for the world cup. The low yo-yo score can surely act as a motivation spree for him to break into the national side once again.

#2 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

As the first choice keeper of the India Under-19 World Cup squad, Rishabh Pant had his first stint as an international player and proved his mettle by hitting an 18-ball fifty, the fastest at this level. His performance at the global stage made him an overnight sensation and fetched him an IPL contract with Delhi Daredevils.

At domestic leagues viz. Ipl and Ranji Trophy, the 20-year old has continued his sublime form which also helped him getting the national call-up from the selectors. Making his debut in February 2017, the Delhi-lad has impressed one and all with his technique and finesse to hit the ball out of the stadium.

Ganguly told reporters about his opinion on Pant:

I think he has a future but having said that consistency is important. Yes T20 is different, opportunities are lot lesser. But I think for someone like Pant and Ishan, their time will come. They are young and there is no hurry. They will mature as they play more games and they will play for India in the years to come

One of the brightest prospects of the young generation, Rishabh Pant is the guaranteed future of Indian Cricket Team. It's a matter of when, and not if, he becomes a regular member of the playing XI. Starting as a backup keeper to Dhoni, Pant can cement his position in the side, a glimpse of which fans can witness in the upcoming World Cup itself.

#1 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik made his international debut in 2004 and remains a regular player on sporadic occasions. Rising through the ranks, Karthik caught the eyes of selectors with his phenomenal performances in both domestic and international stages as a specialist batsman when other players were rested or injured, or as a wicket-keeper when Dhoni was sidelined.

With a career full of ups and downs, Karthik continues to fight for a place in the playing XI, and his match-winning knock of an unbeaten 29 off 8 balls in the final of the Nidahas Trophy against Bangladesh earlier this year made him a heartthrob among Indian fans worldwide.

Amazing victory by #TeamIndia. Superb batting by @DineshKarthik. A great knock by @ImRo45 to set the platform.What a finish to a final!!#NidahasTrophy2018 #INDvsBAN pic.twitter.com/ZYDl6jzVWl

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 18, 2018

With him being in the form of his life, Dinesh Karthik remains the numero uno choice as the backup wicketkeeper for the World Cup in 2019. He has shown striking similarities to MS Dhoni as a calm-composed batsman who can finish the game at any given point of the match, and his achievements and accolades as a player and a captain are more than enough to make him the perfect replacement to the former Indian captain.