Amidst debate of whether Ishan Kishan will lose his spot in the Indian XI for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s stage matches now that KL Rahul is fit and ready to go, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his two cents on the matter as well.
KL Rahul was named in the Asia Cup and World Cup squads as BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted that Rahul's inclusion has given India ‘the best balance’ in its squad. Rahul, who has recovered from his thigh surgery at the NCA, had suffered a hamstring niggle.
But recently he was given the all-clear to join the Indian squad in Colombo for the Super 4s matches of the Asia Cup. India will play Pakistan on September 10.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his reservations when asked whether India fields a playing XI with both Kishan and Rahul.
"Both cannot have a place in the XI. Both can only play if someone gets injured in the top order, which we don't want, or loses his form completely. I have only one thing to say about the ongoing debate.
Ishan Kishan scored runs against Pakistan at No. 5, which is not his position. God forbid if he gets out in the next match, will we say he is not in form? No, that's not the case. We forget very quickly. We should never forget KL Rahul's numbers for the last two years and Ishan Kishan has played one innings," Pathan said on Star Sports.
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Ishan Kishan gave rise to the debate when he played an amazing and mature knock of 82 against Pakistan in Pallekele and added 138 runs with Hardik Pandya for 5th wicket when the Men on Blue were 66/4 at one stage.
"You shouldn't have short-term memory. You should have long-term thinking and I feel the thinking with which the management is going is correct because if you keep going with short-term memory, you will have a lot of difficulty in making the team, stabilizing it, and giving confidence to the guys," Pathan added.
Rahul and Kishan are pitted against each other as the Indian batters are the two wicketkeepers named in India's World Cup squad. Though Kishan has appeared to be in red-hot form, Rahul has an edge over Kishan as he averages 56.53 at the No.5 position.
"You just have to keep in mind that if KL Rahul comes and plays and doesn't get his form, then you can say that he didn't regain his form after injury and you can give Ishan Kishan the entire World Cup. However, as soon as KL Rahul comes, he will play," Pathan concluded.
