IPL 2024 will reportedly start on March 22. Although the dates may clash with the Lok Sabha Elections in India, the entire tournament is expected to take place in India only. It will be a long tournament because 10 teams will participate.
In such a competition, the fitness area becomes quite important. The wicketkeepers specially have to maintain their fitness so that they can play the entire season. At times, wicketkeepers get injured, which arises the need to have a backup wicketkeeper. Here are our predictions for the same:
1. Back-up wicketkeeper of CSK for IPL 2024 – Devon Conway
Devon Conway keeps the wickets for New Zealand. However, since MS Dhoni is present in CSK team, Conway has not received that chance in IPL. He can be the backup for Dhoni.
2. Back-up wicketkeeper of DC for IPL 2024 – Tristan Stubbs
Rishabh Pant is unlikely to keep the wickets for DC in the 2024 season. Kumar Kushagra can be the first-choice, with South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs being the probable back-up for him.
3. Back-up wicketkeeper of GT for IPL 2024 – Matthew Wade
Matthew Wade was GT’s first-choice wicketkeeper in 2022, but Wriddhiman Saha soon took that position. Wade continues to be the backup wicketkeeper option for the Titans now.
4. Back-up wicketkeeper of KKR for IPL 2024 – KS Bharat
Rahmanullah Gurbaz should be the first-choice wicketkeeper for Kolkata Knight Riders. They have a fantastic backup option in the form of KS Bharat for the 2024 season now.
5. Back-up wicketkeeper of MI for IPL 2024 – Vishnu Vinod
Vishnu Vinod is an attacking middle-order wicketkeeper batter. Mumbai Indians retained him for the 2024 season, showing that the team management has high hopes from the youngster.
6. LSG – Quinton de Kock
KL Rahul may keep the wickets for LSG this year because he wants to audition for the T20 World Cup. In that case, Quinton de Kock may become the back-up wicketkeeper now.
7. PBKS – Jonny Bairstow
Jitesh Sharma has cemented his spot as the primary wicketkeeper batter of the Punjab Kings team. If he isn’t available, PBKS have a fine backup in the form of Jonny Bairstow.
8. RCB – Anuj Rawat
Anuj Rawat has been with the Royal Challengers Bangalore for two seasons now. The youngster will continue to be the back-up for the experienced wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.
9. RR – Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel recently earned a call-up to the Indian Test team. He may be the backup wicketkeeper optionf or Rajasthan Royals in IPL, with Sanju Samson being the first choice.
10. SRH – Glenn Phillips
Heinrich Klaasen should be the first-choice wicketkeeper batter for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. As his backup, SRH can use New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips, who has been retained by the team.
