Ishan Kishan‘s inclusion in the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies has sparked concerns about the team’s batting order. With KL Rahul unavailable due to injury, Kishan and Sanju Samson are the wicketkeeper options in the squad.
While both Rahul and Samson have experience batting in the middle-order, Kishan is primarily an opening batter. Former India opener, Aakash Chopra, has pointed out that this could create an issue for the team in the long run.
Chopra, in a video on his official YouTube channel, highlighted the importance of having consistency in the batting positions for wicketkeeper. If Rahul continues to be sidelined, Samson will likely be the replacement in the middle order, leaving no space for Kishan in that position.
Chopra believes that Kishan’s place in the team depends not just on his individual performances but also on the team’s overall balance. The former cricketer emphasized the batting order conundrum, noting that Shubman Gill has almost cemented his place as the opening partner for captain Rohit Sharma.
While Shikhar Dhawan seems to be out of contention for national selection, Chopra suggested that the team may have moved on from the veteran opener.
With Gill and Rohit as the first-choice opening pair, it becomes difficult to accommodate Kishan as an opener, which might lead to him being considered a middle-order option.
Ishan Kishan has played a significant role in India’s ODI squad in recent months
Chopra argued that if a second wicketkeeper is picked, he should bat in the same position as the first-choice keeper, which is typically in the middle-order for India. But since Kishan primarily opens, it creates a dilemma for the team. If KL Rahul is unavailable, Kishan could be the backup option, but it’s unclear how he would fit into the batting order without disrupting the team’s balance.
While Kishan appears to be a strong contender for the third opener and second wicketkeeper role, Chopra stressed the importance of having a middle-order batter as the first choice. The team management will have to find a solution to this issue during the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, which is India’s last bilateral assignment before the Asia Cup in August.
India will also participate in another three-match ODI series against Australia just before the World Cup. Finding the right balance in the batting lineup will be crucial for India as they prepare for the ODI World Cup.
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