India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023: Ishan Kishan is set to play the role of wicket-keeper batsman in the Asia Cup in the absence of KL Rahul, but confusion persists over the left-hander’s batting order ahead of India’s first match against Pakistan on September 2.
KL Rahul will not be available for the first two matches of the Asia Cup and in such a situation, Ishaan Kishan can also be fielded as an opener. In India’s last ODI series against the West Indies, he opened the innings with Shubman Gill and scored three consecutive half-centuries.
Ishaan Kishan scored 184 runs in three matches of the ODI series against the West Indies at an average of 61.33. He played half-century innings of 52, 55 and 77 runs. However, Rohit Sharma did not open in the series against the West Indies. Now that Rohit has returned, he is sure to land as an opener and in such a situation, the Indian team management has to consider the batting order of Ishaan Kishan.
Ishaan Kishan has done well while opening the innings. He scored a double century against Bangladesh last year as an opener. He has been more successful as an opener in ODIs.
Former Indian team coach Ravi Shastri believes that Ishaan Kishan should be fielded as an opener, as he can take India to a strong position initially with his carefree batting.
If Ishaan Kishan starts the innings, then Shubman Gill will have to bat at number three and Virat Kohli at number four. This would mean that Shreyas Iyer, who has returned from injury, will bat at number five. In such a situation, Hardik Pandya will land at number six and there will be no place for Suryakumar Yadav in the team.
Apart from this, India can work on another option. He can field Ishaan Kishan at number three, after which Kohli will come out to bat at number four and Iyer at number five. In such a situation, Rohit and Gill will open the innings.
Ishaan Kishan can also be fielded in the middle order. Batting at number four, he has scored two half-centuries in the four innings he has played so far. He can also be fielded at number five, but in the 17 ODIs he has played so far, he has not come out to bat at this number.
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