Former India pacer RP Singh has opined that in case KL Rahul isn’t fit in time for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, then the Indian team management should go with Ishan Kishan as his replacement.
India is facing a huge problem in its middle order as both KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are at the NCA trying their best to recover and get fit in time for the marquee ICC tournament which begins on October 5 and will be hosted by India.
Both the cricketers underwent surgeries- Rahul for his thigh injury which he sustained in IPL 2023 and Iyer for his back issues which made him miss the IPL 2023 and other series since then.
While the news has been trickling in that KL Rahul is getting closer to becoming fully fit, RP Singh suggested that if the Karnataka keeper-batter isn’t fit in time for the tournament, keeper-batter Ishan Kishan can be his replacement.
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“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 told JioCinema.
Kishan was in sublime form in the three ODIs against West Indies, where he struck three consecutive fifties while opening the innings and was also Player of the Series for his contribution. He was safe behind the wickets 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.
Kishan’s ODI stats read 694 runs in 16 innings at an average of 46.3 which includes one century and six fifties. He holds the record for the fastest 200 in ODI cricket, coming off just 126 balls against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year.
