New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Legendary West Indies cricketer Brian Lara has said that KL Rahul is a "great batsman" and he should concentrate on putting lots of runs on the board and not bother about wicketkeeping for the place in the Indian squad.

Rahul, who is currently leading Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing IPL has scored 302 runs - including one hundred and two half-centuries in five matches so far.

"Well, first of all I would like to say that KL Rahul should not be bothered with wicketkeeping when it comes to that Indian squad. He's such a great batsman that I feel that he should concentrate on that and put in a lot of runs on the board," Lara said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

Lara also mentioned that Pant has improved a lot over the past one year and should be India's No 1 choice to replace MS Dhoni behind the stumps in the Indian team.

Pant has been in good form in the ongoing tournament, scoring 171 runs in the five matches he has played so far for the Delhi Capitals.

"Rishabh Pant a year ago, I would say no, but I feel that he has stepped up in terms of his responsibility as a batsman. Look at how he plays for Delhi Capitals, it looks like he wants that responsibility, he wants that onus on him to score runs, build an innings and get big scores," said Lara.

"If he continues that way, I think that he should the number one," he added.

According to Brian Lara, Sanju Samson is a "classy" batsman but looks technically vulnerable in front of good bowlers on sporty wickets.

'Sanju Samson, who is not ’keeping for Rajasthan Royals, but I do understand that he keeps, that’s one of his main jobs – very classy player, looks good so far in the tournament in Sharjah. I feel there’s a little chink in his armoury in terms of his technique against very good bowling on sporty tracks,' he said.

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