Former cricketer Tom Moody feels Ishan Kishan will be vulnerable in England’s conditions for the World Test Championship final against Australia. The final will take place from June 7 to June 11 at the Kennington Oval in London. The Board of Control for Cricket in India recently announced Ishan Kishan as a replacement for injured wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul.
Tom Moody feels Team India should have gone ahead with Wriddhiman Saha, rather than Ishan Kishan. He expressed that Saha is an experienced player, and would have been a valuable asset in the final. Speaking to the ESPNCricinfo, Tom Moody said,
“From my perspective, the way I look at it, from an outsider looking in, Saha is by far the superior keeper. Saha brings 15 years of experience. In a final, whether he is playing on the field or off the playing field, I think that’s a valuable asset to have.”
“I think in England, at that time of the year, when the final is going to be played, or this Test Championship is going to be played, we are going to see the Duke ball not behave in favor of the batter. It’s going to be bowler-friendly. I think, Ishan Kishan, in those conditions, is vulnerable,” he added.
In a one-off option, I’d rather have the experience: Tom Moody
Ishan Kishan has played 48 matches in his first-class matches, scoring 2985 runs at an average of 38.76. He has six centuries and 16 half-centuries to his name. His top score of 273 runs came against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy six years ago. The wicket-keeper batter is yet to make his Test debut.
Former cricketer Tom Moody expressed that batting wise there won’t be a big difference between Ishan Kishan and Wriddhiman Saha. However, in a one-off Test match, experience should have been valued. He said,
“The difference between Saha and Kishan as a batting option at No.7-8, there won’t be a big difference in what the output would be because of that. So in a one-off option, I’d rather have the experience, the better keeper. I would make it very clear to Saha that this is what it is, it is one-off. We need your depth of experience, and these are the reasons why.”
“And to Ishan Kishan, the same explanation. And once the final is completed, and from India’s perspective, they win it and they are successful, they can then make the transition and say a generous farewell to Saha and you move to the next chapter,” he added.
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