Read on the application
Ahead of the start of the Indian team’s campaign in the Asia Cup 2023, coach Rahul Dravid has announced that KL Rahul will not be available for the first two matches. In such a situation, Ishan Kishan is sure to get a chance to replace him. Had KL Rahul been fully fit, he would have batted at No.5, but in his absence, Team India’s batting order has faltered. Actually, Ishan Kishan is the top ranked player, but there is no place for him in the top three positions. If Ishan Kishan fits in the top-3, the order of other batsmen will change. On the other hand, if he is given a chance in the middle order, he can land at number-4 or 5. Let us tell you that the Indian team will play its first match in the Asia Cup 2023 against arch rival Pakistan on September 2.
SL vs BAN: Sri Lanka beats Bangladesh by 5 wickets in Asia Cup 2023 to set World Cup record
In the absence of Rahul, Kishan can also be fielded as an opening batsman. In India’s last ODI against West Indies, he opened the innings with Shubman Gill and left a good impression. Kishan scored 184 runs at an average of 61.33 in the three matches of that series. He played half-centuries of 52, 55 and 77 runs. However, Rohit Sharma was rested for the series against West Indies. Now that Rohit is back, he is sure to be an opening batsman and in such a scenario, the Indian team management will have to think about Kishan’s batting order.
Kishan has started the innings well. Last year he scored a double century as an opening batsman against Bangladesh. Former Indian team coach Ravi Shastri believes that Kishan should be fielded as an opening batsman as he can put India in a strong early position with his careless batting.
If Kishan opens the innings, Gill will have to bat at number three and Virat Kohli at number four. This will mean that Shreyas Iyer, who is returning from injury, will bat at number five. In such a situation, Hardik Pandya will be dropped at number six and there will be no place for Suryakumar Yadav in the team.
Suryakumar is yet to perform as expected in ODIs but given his skills, he has been retained in the squad. Iyer may have to wait a bit for his return to the field if the team management wants to keep him in the playing XI. Apart from this, India can work on another option. He may field Kishan at number three, followed by Kohli at number four and Iyer at number five. In such a situation, Rohit and Gill will open the innings.
Kishan can also be fielded in the middle order. Batting at number four, he has scored two fifties in the four innings he has played so far. He can also be fielded at number five but he has not batted at this number in the 17 ODIs he has played so far.