Is Dharmani the answer to the Indian wicketkeeper crisis?

When a batsman scores over 1000 runs in a season of domestic cricket in India, people usually sit up and take notice. He is usually earmarked as a hopeful to make the senior side. Pankaj Dharmani has so far made 1042 runs in 8 matches at an average slightly higher than 130. Strangely, very few people are talking about Dharmani as the next Indian batting star.

Dharmani's essay of 305 alone should have been enough to catch the eye of scribes in India. Early in the season against Jammu and Kashmir, Dharmani showed that he had not only the ability to make runs, but also the temperament to spend time at the wicket. In this age of slam bang One-Day cricket, it is rare that a batsman has the ability to pace his innings and play long knocks. Even a genius of the calibre of Tendulkar had to wait long before he made his first double ton in first class cricket.

Dharmani enjoyed a run of 608 runs without being dismissed. At one point his scores from successive innings were 70, 305 not out, 202 not out and 101. It was only in the last match against Haryana that Dharmani fell from grace. His zero against Haryana was the only blemish in an otherwise impressive run.

What makes his performance more crucial is the fact that the wicketkeeper batsman must be eyeing another go at keeping wickets for the country. When he played a few limited overs matches for India as a batsman, Dharmani failed to make a mark. The scenario now however is a completely different one. Nayan Mongia is out of favour with just about everyone in the cricket establishment and is spending his time cooling his heels in the pavilion. MSK Prasad is struggling behind the stumps in both limited overs and more importantly Test cricket. With the controversy about both Mongia and MSK Prasad being in Australia heating up, Dharmani must fancy his chances.

Dharmani will be full of confidence following his astounding run in the domestic circuit. The Indian selectors would do well to keep a close watch on the wicketkeeper batsman from Punjab. There is still so much cricket to be played around the country. After his valiant attempt to prove himself, one can only hope that he at least gets the credit that is due to him.