KL Rahul To Replace Samson? Analyzing Indian Wicketkeepers After 1st Half Of IPL 2025

Samson and KL Rahul (Source: AP Photos)

The IPL 2025 is now into its second half, and there have been plenty of twists and turns along the way. There have been quite a few surprises as well, with some of the big IPL powerhouses faltering on the big stage. The IPL over the years has played a key role in creating a talent pool in India, and this IPL too might play a key role in selecting the personnel for the T20I team.

In this article, let us look at the performance of the Indian wicketkeepers in the first half of IPL 2025, and analyze who is ahead of the race at this point in time. 

Porel, Prabhsimran Singh Impress As Wicketkeeper Opening Option

In total, there are eight Indian wicketkeeping options who are plying their trade in IPL 2025. In the last year or so, Sanju Samson has been India's first-choice wicketkeeper and has done well with three centuries at the top of the order. However, injuries and indifferent performances have raised questions over his place in the squad. He has one fifty at a decent strike-rate, but the player of his quality is expected to do more, and that is what he has not been able to do.

Sanju Samson's IPL 2025 Stats

Ishan Kishan's IPL 2025 Stats

Ishan Kishan, the other high-profile option has 138 runs in seven innings even after scoring a century in the first game of the season. It has surely put his comeback aspirations in the Indian side on the backfoot, while Abishek Porel, the other wicketkeeping opening option, has done decently with 225 runs in eight innings. He has not got big scores, but has given his team good starts more often than not.

Prabhsimran Singh is another option, and fits perfectly into the ultra-aggressive mode Indian team is searching from an opening batter. However, he has not shown consistency, and has one fifty in eight innings. 

Rishabh Pant's Struggles Open Up Option Of Jitesh Sharma

In the middle order, there are options like Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel and Jitesh Sharma. The most reputed of them all, Rishabh Pant, who was part of the Indian T20 World Cup 2024 side is going through a lean patch. He has scored runs at a strike-rate of less than 100 and has an average of just 13.25.

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Rishabh Pant's IPL 2025 Stats

Dhruv Jurel has also faltered under pressure in the middle-order role and has lacked the power-hitting skills that are required at that position. Jitesh Sharma though has shown the hitting abilities and finishing skills that are required in T20 cricket in the lower middle order. However, he too needs to show more consistency, but as of now, he has done better than Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant.

KL Rahul Delivers Flexibility As T20 Batter

KL Rahul's IPL 2025 Stats

There is one player though who has stood out among the wicketkeepers and he is KL Rahul. He has been out of favour in T20 cricket, but in this IPL, he has done well both as an opener and as a middle order batter. His strike-rate is also over 150, and in the one match he opened for DC, he scored a fifty. Overall, he has shown great temperament to take his team over the line in pressure situations, and it has brought him again into the selection radar of Indian T20I team.

Conclusion

Based on the stats and performances in the first half of IPL, KL Rahul looks a front-runner among Indian wicketkeepers. He can also open or bat in the middle order, if needed. However, his strike-rate in the past has come under the scanner, and rather than a boundary hitter, he is more of a player who takes time to get going.

If selectors continue to go with the approach of an aggressive starter, then Sanju Samson looks favourite to open as a wicketkeeper. However, with lot of other opening options at the selectors' disposal, they might go for a lower middle-order wicketkeeper. In that case, Jitesh Sharma seems ahead in the race.

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