Indian team has found itself in a bind ahead of the upcoming four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in February-March, after aggressive keeper-batter, Rishabh Pant suffered serious injuries after being involved in a car accident on December 30, 2022. 

As Pant is set to reportedly miss cricket for nearly 8–10 months due to the injuries that he sustained in the accident, the Indian team will need to find a replacement of his caliber, someone who can have the same impact as he does in red-ball cricket for the Australia challenge.

Talking about the same thing, former India keeper and chief selector, Saba Karim named Ishan Kishan as Rishabh Pant's potential replacement for Team India ahead of the much-awaited Test series against Australia, starting on February 9 in Nagpur.

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Saba Karim told India News: “I agree that KS Bharat is being groomed for the Test keeping role. But with all due respect to him, I feel Ishan Kishan is more suitable as an ideal replacement for Pant, considering the kind of role that Pant was playing in the Test team.”

However, the former Indian wicketkeeper admitted that KS Bharat is being groomed for the keeping role, but he felt Kishan’s batting style makes him a suitable replacement for Pant in the Test team.

The 55-year-old continued, “Ishan is playing the Ranji Trophy and has scored a hundred at a quick pace. And We were winning Tests due to Pant’s presence because not only was he playing match-winning knocks, but was doing them at a quick pace.”

He signed off by saying, “This was transferring pressure on the opposition, while also giving bowlers time to take 20 wickets. Kishan hasn’t played red-ball cricket for India A, but he has been playing domestic red-ball cricket for a few years.”