Ishan Kishan continued his brilliant run of form as he slammed a half-century in India’s Asia Cup 2023 opener against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (September 2).

The wicketkeeper-batter produced a stunning knock of 82 in 81 balls while batting at No. 5 after Pakistani pacers ran through the Indian top-order.

His knock was studded with 9 fours and 2 sixes, and he stitched a crucial 138-run partnership with Hardik Pandya to propel India to a competitive 266/10. However, rain played spoilsport as Pakistan didn’t get to bat and the match was called off.

Kishan’s batting has been a topic of discussion after the match as he slammed his fourth consecutive half-century in the 50-over format. The southpaw was picked in the XI due to KL Rahul being ruled out of the first two matches of the tournament due to injury.

Meanwhile, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has said that Ishan Kishan shouldn’t be left out of the playing XI once Rahul returns after regaining fitness.

Instead, Gavaskar opined that Shreyas Iyer could be the one to make way for KL Rahul in the side.

"I would actually wait and see what Shreyas Iyer does against Nepal as well. And if he doesn't get runs in the game against Nepal, he might not even get an opportunity to bat. He could probably bat, you know, because against Nepal, if India go for 50 overs, the top three batters could possibly bat 40 odd overs,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“But otherwise I would look at, you know, in case Shreyas Iyer doesn't get runs, then I would look at both Rahul and Kishan batting at four and five. You can't drop after he got 80. He's got an 80 in trying circumstances. I don't think you can drop him. It's not fair to him. And he, like I said, he brings a left-handed dimension to the Indian top order," he added.

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team is due to take on Nepal in Pallekele on Monday (September 4). It is a must-win game for the Men in Blue to qualify for the Super-4 round of the continental tournament.