3 wicket-keepers who must perform well in IPL to strengthen their T20 World Cup chances

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) began on March 22 with CSK and RCB taking over eachother. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule of IPL for the first 17 days, owing to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Moreover, right after the IPL, the T20 World Cup 2024 is starting on June 2. Thus, the players who are a part of the IPL will be scrutinized properly before the beginning of the World Cup. As the ICC has given May 25 as the deadline for squad changes, the IPL will play an important role in the process of selection of players for the T20 World Cup.

Here are the 3 wicket-keepers:

3. Jitesh Sharma

The relatively lesser-known name among the three, Jitesh Sharma is from Maharashtra and has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. However, his IPL performance is not up to the mark yet. With the competition for the wicketkeeper's slot in the Indian team intensifying, Sharma needs an amazing IPL season to catch the selectors' attention. His ability to score quick runs down the order together with his ability behind the stumps makes him a valuable asset in the T20 format.

2. KL Rahul 

Once considered India's primary wicketkeeping option in limited-overs cricket, KL Rahul has seen his fortunes fluctuate in recent times. He has been a brilliant batter across formats, his keeping skills have improved a lot. The IPL provides Rahul with a stage to silence his critics and get back the title as a top-notch keeper-batter. A successful IPL season could not only secure his place in the T20 World Cup squad but also strengthen India's middle-order batting.

1.  Ishan Kishan

Bursting onto the scene with his explosive batting in the IPL, Ishan Kishan's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. However, inconsistency has hindered his international career so far. With the upcoming T20 World Cup, Kishan needs to deliver consistently in the IPL to make a place in the Indian squad. His ability to take the attack to the opposition in difficult situations makes him an exciting prospect in T20 cricket. Furthermore, his versatility as a left-handed batsman adds depth to India's batting lineup.