Former Pakistan Captain Salman Butt suggests team India play Inform batsmen Ishan Kishan in their second match of the ICC T20 World Cup against New Zealand. According to him, it will be a tactical move and keeping Ishan Kishan in the playing X1 will be giving a boost to team India’s batting.
Before Salman Butt stated Ishan Kishan should be in India’s playing X1, Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh also opined his views on the same saying Kishan should be in the playing X1 for India looking at his form.
Virat Kohli was left a bit stunned by a question in the press conference whether India should have selected Ishan Kishan instead of Rohit Sharma.
🎥 Courtesy of ICC pic.twitter.com/GKkUAIsaT9
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 24, 2021
Recently, Salman Butt on his Youtube Channel opined that: “Ishan Kishan is in great form and India should play him. Suryakumar Yadav is also a very good player, no doubt about that. However, you utilize those players who are in better form. Players who are confident give you more because they have runs under their belt. The player whose confidence level is down is not a lesser cricketer. But you select those players who are likely to be more useful in a game.”
Moving on, the Former Pakistan captain stated facts about New Zealand, saying the blackcaps do not have an off-spinner in their squad, so having a left-handed batsman in the playing X1 will also be a plus point for Team India. Also, looking at Ishan Kishan’s form he is all charged up to get a big score hopefully in the next match he plays.
“Tactically as well, Harbhajan has a point. New Zealand do not have an off-spinner. One is a left-arm spinner (Mitchell Santner) and the other is a right-arm leg-spinner (Ish Sodhi). Left-handers are more likely to dominate such kind of bowlers. Strategically, it will be the right move.”
“If Pandya is not completely fit to bowl, India can opt for Shardul Thakur” – Salman Butt
Besides Ishan Kishan, Salman Butt also stated his views on Hardik Pandya who is terribly out of form at the moment and has not been bowling. Well, recently he was seen with the ball in hand in the practice session ahead of the New Zealand encounter after passing all the required fitness tests.
■■■■■■■■■■■□□□ LOADING@hardikpandya7 | #TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/hlwtrGDfNR
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 28, 2021
According to Salman Butt, if Hardik Pandya is not totally fit and not ready to bowl in the upcoming matches of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, India should get in Shardul Thakur as a replacement for Hardik Pandya.
“Strategically, it will be better. Hardik Pandya is a capable all-rounder. I saw him play some very good knocks in Australia, but the guy is not fit. In such a scenario, you ensure not to put too much pressure on your problem areas. And so your (bowling) action is not complete. This affects your output and speed because you are trying to be more careful not to hurt yourself again. There are mental barriers until you are 100% fit. So if Pandya is not completely fit to bowl, India can opt for Shardul Thakur and there is Rahul Chahar and Ravichandran Ashwin as well.”
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