IPL 2019: Wicket-keeping candidates and probable keepers for each team

The 2019 IPL Auction is over and all the teams have churned out a competitive combination for the forthcoming edition of the tournament. This time around, the auction happened to be an unusual one as a good number of players were bought by the franchises who released them a few days back before the retention deadlines.

In the process of churning out a competitive team, plenty of franchises went ahead and acquired quite a few back-ups as the English, South African and Australian players would be leaving early in a bid to prepare for the World Cup. As a result, a few franchises also opted in for the services of backup wicket-keepers who will be serving them after their main-stream wicket-keepers' flight back home.

Thus, in this article, we will have a look at the possible wicket-keeping candidates and the probable wicket-keepers for each franchise in IPL 2019.

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Candidates for Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Prashant Chopra

Rajasthan Royals looks a decently balanced side when it comes to wicket-keeping. They have the likes of Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson who can do the justice to the role. Besides, they also have Prashant Chopra who can come handy too if the need be.

Rajasthan Royals persisted with Jos Buttler as their wicket-keeping candidate for IPL 2018. Buttler, who is an experienced keeper in the English team in the shorter formats, did a splendid job for Royals behind the stumps. He not only did a decent job behind the stumps but also excelled with the willow for the Royals in the eleventh edition of the league.

Alongside Buttler, the other two options that Royals will have are Samson and Chopra. Samson has donned the wicket-keeping gloves for Royals in the past and might do the needful in this year as well. He would be the automatic selection for the role of after Buttler flight back home - pending English board's rules for players in the 2019 WC plans.

Coming to Chopra, he is least likely to get the role after Buttler's tenure. The reason being Samson has the experience as he has done it in the past. In addition to that, Sanju will be definite in Royals' playing XI while Chopra might warm the bench for a considerable part of the league.

Thus, out of three wicket-keeping candidates, Buttler and Samson will be the most obvious ones with the latter replacing the former after former's way back home.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: Jos Buttler (Sanju Samson after Jos Buttler's departure)

Candidates for Delhi Capitals - Rishabh Pant and Ankush Bains

Delhi Daredevils (oh my bad! Its Delhi Capitals) have fielded two wicket-keepers in their squad namely Rishabh Pant and Ankush Bains with the latter being the recent addition.

Delhi Capitals enjoyed the services of Rishabh Pant in IPL 2018. Pant was the most valuable player for Capitals with decent wicket-keeping and lighting batting that lit up the IPL. Although it was his batting that stole the show, his glovework was no bad, and he fared decently with the gloves as well.

Besides Pant, the only other option that Delhi can think of in IPL 2019 is Ankush Bains. Howbeit, he will have to play, if he gets a chance, as a pure batsman in the side pending Pant's exploits as a wicket-keeper. In addition to that, Bains also lacks the experience of donning the gloves at a level as big as IPL.

Thus, Delhi, by no means, will be trying Bains as a keeper-batsman, primarily, because, Bains will not be a regular player in Delhi's playing combination. Moreover, wicket-keeping tends to bring the best out of Pant.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: Rishabh Pant

Candidates for Sunrisers Hyderabad: Jonny Bairstow, Wriddhiman Saha, and Shreevats Goswami

One department where Sunrisers Hyderabad a struggled a tad in IPL 2018 was wicket-keeping. Not because they didn't have decent glovemen but because their glovemen failed to rake up runs - an essential quality modern gloveman should have.

However, looking at their problems in the previous year, Sunrisers acquired the services of Jonny Bairstow in this year's auction. Interestingly, SRH bought back Wriddhiman Saha whom they released ahead of the retention deadline. This very move came in a bid to keep them covered as Bairstow will be heading back to England after 25 April 2019 - the reported cut-off date of English players.

Besides Bairstow and Saha, SRH also has Shreevats Goswami as their wicket-keeping candidate who kept wickets in six games for SRH in IPL 2018. With Sunrisers having Saha and Goswami for the wicket-keeping roles after Bairstow's trip back home, they are envisioned to hand Saha the duty after Bairstow's way back home. The reason being Saha's exploits behind the stumps. Hence, it will be Bairstow to kick-off SRH's playing XI.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: Jonny Bairstow (Wriddhiman Saha after Bairstow's way back home)

Candidates for Kings XI Punjab: Nicholas Pooran, KL Rahul, and Prabhsimran Singh

After Kings XI Punjab's association with KL Rahul as the wicket-keeper in IPL 2018, Kings decided to acquire an extra wicket-keeping option - Nicholas Pooran and Prabhsimran Singh - for IPL 2019. Hence, for IPL 2019, they have Rahul and Pooran for the wicket-keeping duties.

Punjab's decision of persisting with Rahul as their first-choice wicket-keeper meant an added responsibility given to him. Although it didn't prove to be a bad move, an experienced wicket-keeping option would have been a plus for the Kings.

Out of the three wicket-keeping candidates, Prabhsimran Singh is least likely to get the job as he will not be making a place in the playing XI more often. Hence, Punjab wouldn't want to fix Singh as the wicket-keeper. Coming to KL, he can be the one to continue donning the gloves for Punjab as he did a fair job in IPL 2018 as well, and the wicket-keeping brought the best out of him.

Howbeit, Pooran will be the one to get behind the stumps for Punjab. Nicholas has been a decent wicket-keeper and much above that he has been a powerful batsman. Hence, his place in playing XI seems almost inevitable. Thus, the Kings would want to confer the wicket-keeping duties on Pooran while freeing Rahul from the responsibility.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: Nicholas Pooran

Candidates for Kolkata Knight Riders: Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, and Nikhil Naik

Kolkata Knight Riders happen to be one of the strongest teams when it comes to wicket-keeping. They have the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa in their ranks who can don the wicket-keeping gloves. Alongside them, they also possess Nikhil Naik who can do the job as well. It was Karthik who kept the stumps in IPL 2018 after Uthappa who did it in the formative years.

Karthik seems to be the one to don the gloves in IPL 2019 as well. DK has been an experienced keeper and being the Kolkata captain he will want to have the best place on the field - behind the stumps. Moreover, if ever Karthik feels the need to relieve himself from the duties, it will be Uthappa who will succeed him as the wicket-keeper.

Hence, Naik's chances as a keeper are second to none. Moreover, with Nikhil being a rookie and his chances in the playing XI almost dubious, the argument gets much more weight. Thus, it will be Dinesh to do the wicket-keeping duties for KKR in IPL 2019.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: Dinesh Karthik

Candidates for Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel, Heinrich Klaasen, and AB de Villiers

Royal Challengers Bangalore have some decent wicket-keeping options in their squad in the name of Parthiv Patel, AB de Villiers, and Heinrich Klaasen. Parthiv Patel and Quinton de Kock donned the gloves for RCB in IPL 2018 where the former player six matches and the latter featured in eight games.

This time around, with three options up their sleeve, Bangalore wouldn't force de Villiers to keep the wickets as RCB has benefitted from AB de Villiers athletic fielding more often than not. And hence, AB completely goes out of the equation.

Although Klaasen has had the experience of keeping the wickets, it will be Parthiv Patel who is expected to do the wicket-keeping duties for RCB in IPL 2019. The reason being Parthiv will come in as an Indian player, and his selection will not force Bangalore to exclude any foreign player.

Whereas, in the case of Klaasen, RCB will have to sacrifice a place for an overseas player. Moreover, Klaasen might not be an automatic addition for Bangalore in the playing XI. Thus, RCB will be throwing Parthiv into the wicket-keeping bubble.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: Parthiv Patel

Candidates for Mumbai Indians: Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan, and Aditya Tare

Mumbai Indians happen to be a dominant wicket-keeping base with Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan, and Aditya Tare in their squad. Out of the three, it was Ishan Kishan who conferred the wicket-keeping duties for Mumbai in IPL 2018.

Ishan had a decent tourney in IPL 2018 with MI as his base. Howbeit, Mumbai decided to bolster their wicket-keeping options as they acquired de Kock in a trade with RCB. Hence, after procuring the services of de Kock, settling on a wicket-keeping option will be a task for Mumbai in IPL 2019.

Of all the candidates, Aditya Tare's selection as a wicket-keeper seems highly unlikely as he hasn't been a regular in the team. Thus, the only competition remains between de Kock and Kishan.

Although Kishan performed wonderfully in IPL 2018 as a wicket-keeper, Mumbai will be tempting to go for de Kock who has been an experienced wicket-keeper. His wicket-keeping exploits are no secret, and to add to it, he is a fiery batsman who could notch runs at a faster rate. Besides, if ever IPL shifts to South Africa, the argument will have much more weight.

Thus, Mumbai will be handing the wicket-keeping gloves to de Kock till he is available. And post his departure, Ishan will come in handy.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: Quinton de Kock (Ishan Kishan after de Kock's departure)

Candidates for Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni, N Jagadeesan, Sam Billings, and Ambati Rayadu

Chennai Super Kings possess the most number of wicket-keepers (4) in their squad. Starting with MS Dhoni, they have Sam Billings, N Jagadeesan, and Ambati Rayadu in their ranks who possess the ability to keep the wickets.

But, it will unquestionably be MS Dhoni who will be guiding his team from the back of the stumps with wicket-keeping gloves in his hands. With world's best wicket-keeper batsman on their side, the chances of the other three players donning the wicket-keeping gloves are second to none.

Right from the first season, Dhoni has been Chennai's gloveman, and he will continue to be the same for IPL 2019. However, if Dhoni catches up with a niggle or an injury or decided to take rest for a game, it will be N Jagadeesan who could have the privilege to keep wickets. Although the chances are less, keeping a backup option is always good.

Wicket-keeper for IPL 2019: MS Dhoni