IND vs AUS LIVE: KS Bharat is likley to be India’s wicketkeeper for the WTC Final 2023 starting on June 7. With Rishabh Pant injured, India has a selection conundrum with Bharat and Ishan Kishan fighting for the spot. However, it is likely that the Andhra gloveman gets the nod, who took advice from MS Dhoni during the recently concluded IPL 2023.
With the stakes as high as they can be, KS Bharat sought the advice of former Indian captain MS Dhoni ahead of the World Test Championship Final. Bharat, who has only played 4 Tests, will be playing his first Test in English conditions.
“Recently during the IPL, I had a word with MS Dhoni. He (talked about) his experiences keeping in England as well as what would work the best for any wicket-keeper. It was a very good conversation and there were a lot of insights from that,” Bharat told the ICC in an interview with Sanjana Ganesan at The Oval.
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KS Bharat said "I had a word with Mahi bhai during IPL, he talked about the experience in England as a keeper, there were lots of insights from him". [ICC] pic.twitter.com/SEnVgHiMdW
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 6, 2023
Dhoni has captained India in England while being the wicketkeeper on tours of 2011 and 2014. In 12 Tests in the UK, Dhoni averages a respectable 37 and 36 dismissals. Receiving advice from Dhoni was particularly impactful given that Bharat named the veteran when asked what makes a good wicket-keeper.
“It’s the awareness – the best example is MS Dhoni, the awareness he has in keeping is outstanding, You need intent and passion to be a keeper, because keeping is a thankless job. You keep 90 overs in a Test day and you have to be concentrating ball by ball, so you have to accept the challenges and embrace it and be really passionate about contributing to the team,” Bharat added.
Bharat was part of the Gujarat Titans side that reached the IPL 2023 Final and lost to MS Dhoni’s CSK. The Andhra keeper had a lacklustre debut series at home against Australia. India would hope that KS can learn a thing or two from MS and stump Australia in the upcoming WTC Final.
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