Harbhajan Singh says Wriddhiman Saha could have replaced KS Bharat in WTC Final

“No, I don’t think so. KS Bharat has been playing for India now. If it were Wriddhiman Saha, then I would say yes, play him. He has more experience and he’s a better keeper. If KL Rahul was fit, I would’ve played him over KS Bharat as well,” Harbhajan said.

Even before Saha lost his spot in the team, Rishabh Pant was the second-choice wicketkeeper-batter, but KS Bharat took over from the seasoned Indian player.

Pant, who has scored centuries in England, Australia and South Africa, won’t be available to counter attack if the top-order fails. Former chief selector MSK Prasad feels KS Bharat is the automatic choice in Pant’s absence but the latter’s ability as a batter is rare.

“It is a pretty straightforward call to pick Bharat (over Ishan Kishan). It is really tough to fill the shoes of Rishabh especially in an away series. In the history of entire India cricket, no other wicketkeeper batter has hundreds in England, South Africa and Australia, so it’s very difficult to replace him,” Prasad told PTI.

“You need to have a wicket kepeer who is fit and fine for 100 overs. This is a Test match and we need to think from that aspect.

“But if you are thinking you can have Ishan Kishan, Bharat has been tried and tested and has played India A in England, so they might end up going with him,” said Prasad, who was the chief selector between 2016 and 2020.

However, earlier, former India selector Sarandeep Singh said picking KS Bharat over Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper for the World Test Championship final against Australia is a no brainer.

In the absence of the injured Rishabh Pant, Kishan, who is yet to play Test cricket, can provide the x-factor but Sarandeep feels Bharat walks into the eleven as the frontline wicketkeeper.

“KS Bharat for sure. He is a proper Test match wicket keeper and we saw that against Australia at home, he kept superbly. He has been around for a while and he should get the opportunity,” Sarandeep told PTI on Wednesday.

India and Australia will square off in the WTC final at The Oval from June 7.

The five-Test Ashes against England beginning June 16 has dominated the headlines over the past few months as Australia seek to win the marque series away from home for the first time in 22 years.