Injuries to key players have left a void in India’s middle order ahead of ODI World Cup 2023. While Shreyas Iyer is expected to make a comeback soon, there is still a question mark over KL Rahul’s availability as he is yet to regain full fitness. In his absence, former Indian pacer RP Singh has suggested that Ishan Kishan must be tried at no.5.
Kishan opened the innings in the three-ODI series against West Indies and delivered with three consecutive half-centuries. He became only the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to achieve the feat in ODIs. However, with ODI skipper Rohit Sharma returning to the playing XI, the team management is expected to stick with Shubman Gill as his opening partner.
“It doesn't work out with just one chance. According to me, Ishan should play at No. 5 if you see him at No. 5 for the (ODI) World Cup. If KL Rahul is unavailable in the future, Ishan Kishan is his backup option," Singh said in a discussion on Jio Cinema.
Kishan is yet to bat at no.5 in ODIs. However, at no.4 he has struggled to score big. So far, the left-handed batter has scored 106 runs from six games at an average of 21.20 including one half-century. His strike rate dropped to 67.08 as well.
"So he has to learn to play at No. 5. When Rohit Sharma comes, Rohit and Shubman Gill will open, although Gill's performance has slightly saddened our hearts. But still if both of them open, where can Ishan Kishan get a place, it is down the order," Singh added.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old has struggled as an opener in T20Is in the ongoing five-T20I series against the Rovman Powell-led side. In the first two T20Is, he registered scores of 6 and 27. He was replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the third T20I. The debutant scored just one run on T20I debut. It will be interesting to see whether the team management sticks with Jaiswal, replaces him with Kishan or Gill warms the bench to accommodate the two left-handed batters.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
