Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant - who should India play as their wicketkeeper for Sri Lanka T20Is?
A new chapter in India's T20I story is set to get underway in the upcoming Sri Lankan tour, starting July 27. The T20 World champions will play three T20Is in the Island nation from July 27 to 30.
It will be the first assignment for newly appointed Indian coach and T20I skipper - Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav. Furthermore, it will be India's first series against a strong opposition, Zimbwbe notwithstanding, after the T20I retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Among several selection headaches for the Indian management will be the choice of wicketkeeper for the Sri Lankan T20Is. Do they go with the stylish right-handed option in Sanju Samson or the flamboyant left-handedness in Rishabh Pant?
While deciding on that might be as hard as choosing between one's right and left eye, here are a few pointers that provide a clearer picture of who between Samson and Pant should start the T20I series against the Lankans.
#1 Recent form and overall T20I record
![Sanju Samson enjoyed an incredible IPL 2024 season with the willow. [Credit: Rajasthan Royals Instagram handle]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/9a9b6-17218963373793-1920.jpg?w=500)
While overall numbers are usually overridden by recent form, it is worthwhile looking at both to see who makes a better case for selection between Samson and Pant.
Unfortunately, neither gloveman boasts an impressive T20I record in their respective careers. While Samson averages 21.14 at a strike rate of 133.33 in 28 T20I games, Pant's numbers are 22.70 at 126.55 in 74 T20Is.
Samson certainly gets the nod if recent form in T20Is and overall T20s is considered. Despite featuring in only four T20I games for India this year, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper averages 35 at a strike rate of over 132.
Meanwhile, Pant has averaged only 24.42 at a strike rate of 127.61 in eight T20Is this year.
Even looking at their performances in the IPL this season, Samson trumps Pant despite both wicketkeepers producing stellar numbers. The former was fifth in the run-scoring charts with 531 runs at an average of over 48 and a strike rate of 153.46, while the latter was 12th with 446 runs at an average-strike rate combination of 40.54 and 155.40.
Advantage: Sanju Samson
#2 Selection hierarchy
![Rishabh Pant impressed with bat and gloves during India's 2024 T20 World Cup title run. [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/82fff-17218960271549-1920.jpg)
The unwritten selection hierarchy rule might work in Rishabh Pant's favor at the start of the Sri Lankan T20I series. The 26-year-old played in all of India's eight games during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
That Samson was also part of the T20 World Cup squad and the management decided to play Pant throughout was a telling sign of the latter being No.1 in the pecking order for wicketkeepers. It also helps that the Men in Blue won the tournament, which begs the question of - why change something that isn't broken?
To Pant's credit, he played several crucial cameos on challenging pitches throughout the World Cup to help India remain unbeaten. His glovework was also commended by most experts and fans as he took an impressive 13 catches with a stumping.
Advantage: Rishabh Pant
#3 Better fit for what India are striving to achieve in this series?
![[Credit: Getty] Samson scored a half-century in India's most recent T20I against Zimbabwe.](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/6bb4a-17218959491101-1920.jpg)
While winning the series remains paramount, Team India might also be looking to give a fair run for several players not part of the recent T20 World Cup in an attempt to widen their pool.
Should that be the case, Sanju Samson should play the Sri Lanka T20Is ahead of Rishabh Pant. The right-hander was part of the second-string Indian squad that recently defeated Zimbwbwe 4-1 and played in the final three games.
Samson scored 12* and a 45-ball 58 in his two innings and should get another run against a mediocre Sri Lankan side that failed to make it out of the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
There is also the case of both Pant and Samson playing in the XI with one of them, likely the latter, as a pure batter. However, if the series is used for building bench strength like the Zimbabwe tour, Samson should play ahead of Pant as India's wicketkeeper.
Advantage: Sanju Samson
In conclusion, the race between Samson and Pant for the wicketkeeping role in the Sri Lankan T20Is could come down to preference among the three above-mentioned factors. What the management strives to achieve from the series could have a massive bearing on which of the two talented glovemen play.
However, if equal weightage is given to the key selection parameters, Samson should slightly get the nod over Pant and play the series opener on July 27.