Former India opener Aakash Chopra talked about whether left-handed keeper-batter Ishan Kishan warrants a place in the Indian XI for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies and the World Cup 2023 as well.
India will resume their prep for the home ODI World Cup on Thursday when the side takes on the West Indies in the first of three ODI matches in Barbados, on July 27, 2023. India will look to have solid performances from its players.
But there is a huge concern for the team management as India is without its first-choice wicketkeeper in Rishabh Pant, who is slated to miss the World Cup as he recovers from his accident which happened last December.
With then-preferred keeper KL Rahul also out with an injury, India will have to choose from Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson for the upcoming ODI series.
While both, Rahul and Samson have played in the middle-order for India, Ishan has primarily been an opening batter, and former India opener Aakash Chopra has warned that it could become an issue for the side going forward.
“If Rahul remains injured, Sanju Samson will come in. Because there's a place in middle order but no space in the opening order. Can Ishan Kishan play in the middle order? He might, but you haven't played him there yet. I think Ishan's place is not dependent on his performance. It's dependent on what the balance of the team is,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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He further added that Shubman Gill is more or less settled as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner, Chopra believes it may become difficult for Ishan Kishan to fit into the side.
“If you're picking a second WK, he must be batting at the same place as your first-choice keeper. If he bats at a different position, it's radically different. For example, if KL Rahul gets injured and isn't available for selection, you have Ishan Kishan as backup. But Ishan opens. So will he be slotted in the opening role and you would send Shubman Gill down? Or will Ishan play in the middle-order, knowing that you haven't played him in that role long enough?” Chopra asked.
“Logically, Ishan Kishan is a frontrunner for the third opener and second wicketkeeper role, but when you think about it, your first choice is a middle-order batter,” he added.
After the West Indies ODI series, India will have the Asia Cup tournament and another three ODIs at home against Australia to get their final squad ready for the World Cup.
(Hindustan Times inputs)
