With India running out of time to sort out their middle order for the 2023 ODI World Cup, the recovery of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer is under the microscope.
The two batters had sustained injuries earlier this summer and have remained out of action in the lead up to the marquee tournament in October.
Former India pacer RP Singh has a suggestion. If KL Rahul isn’t fit in time for the tournament, keeper-batter Ishan Kishan can be his replacement.
“It doesn’t work out with just one chance. According to me, Ishan should play at No. 5 if you see him at No. 5 for the (ODI) World Cup. If KL Rahul is unavailable in the future, Ishan Kishan is his backup option,” Singh told JioCinema.
Kishan was India’s top batter in the recently concluded ODI series in the Caribbean, where he scored three consecutive half-centuries to help India win 2-1. A major difference however was that Kishan opened the batting in all three games alongside Shubman Gill instead of captain Rohit Sharma.
“So he has to learn to play at No. 5. When Rohit Sharma comes, Rohit and Shubman Gill will open, although Gill’s performance has slightly saddened our hearts. But still if both of them open, where can Ishan Kishan get a place, it is down the order,” Singh added.
Kishan’s ODI stats read 694 runs in 16 innings at an average of 46.3 that includes one century and six fifties. The southpaw also has the fastest double hundred in ODI history to his name, which he’d score against Bangladesh last year.
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