The race for the wicketkeeping spot in the Indian side has become increasingly competitive. Several players have put in strong performances at the domestic and India A levels, giving the selectors genuine options to consider across formats.
While Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan have cemented their spots across the three formats respectively, the wide talent pool means there always exist players who could knock the door down. Three wicketkeeper-batters have stood out in recent months through their performances in various competitions. Here is a look at each of them.
3. Prabhsimran Singh
Prabhsimran Singh, the wicketkeeper-batter from Punjab, has established himself as one of the most exciting players in the IPL. He has been a threatening option at the top of the order, bringing a big-hitting game that has drawn attention from selectors.
Beyond his batting, Singh has also impressed behind the stumps with his glovework, making him a well-rounded candidate. He will be looking to use his aggressive batting style to compete for a place at the top of the order in the Indian setup, and his performances in the IPL have kept him firmly in the conversation for a national call-up. Prabhsimran has recently been part of India squads and India A sides, but has yet to make his full debut for the national side.
2. Kumar Kushagra
Kumar Kushagra, the wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand, has evolved his game to suit all three formats and is a highly regarded name in the domestic circuit. He was part of the Jharkhand side that lifted the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, underlining his credentials in the shortest format.
His numbers across formats reflect his adaptability: he averages over 40 in First-Class cricket, over 50 in List A cricket and strikes at over 145 in T20s. These figures have made him one of the more complete wicketkeeper-batter options available to the Indian selectors at present.
1. Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel has been a regular feature for India in Test cricket, though he has not yet broken into the white-ball side. In the Test format, he has often served as a backup to Rishabh Pant, but his performances have seen him establish himself as a genuine challenger for that spot. He would be hoping that his Test form would eventually help push his case for a white-ball call-up. Jurel was also part of the India squad for the ODIs against West Indies.
Jurel has also been a key part of the Rajasthan Royals setup in the IPL across recent seasons, showing the ability to bat in the top order, middle order and in the finisher’s role. His versatility with the bat and his consistency behind the stumps have kept him at the forefront of the wicketkeeping conversation in Indian cricket.