Ishan Kishan to bat in middle order against Pakistan

vashuotwal

With the impending selection of India's World Cup team scheduled for September 5th, the focus appears to be on Ishan Kishan, who has already secured his spot in the squad, as opposed to potentially complicating matters by trying out Samson at No.4.

During a recent preparatory camp in Bangalore, team coach Rahul Dravid hosted a dinner for the players at his residence. On that evening, as players gathered, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and other support staff were also present. Among the players, Ishan Kishan stood out as the most jovial, engaging in light-hearted banter, exchanging friendly pats on the back, and exuding a positive demeanor. This phase is proving to be quite rewarding for Ishan. His three consecutive half-centuries against West Indies and the absence of key contenders due to injuries have provided him a golden opportunity to secure a middle-order slot for the upcoming World Cup. The journey will begin with the Asia Cup, where India intends to test him in the No.4 or No.5 position against formidable opponents like Pakistan and Nepal.

In light of KL Rahul's unavailability due to a groin injury for the Asia Cup's group stages, India's team management is exploring the option of having Ishan Kishan play in the middle-order. While Sanju Samson has accompanied the team as a backup for Rahul, the odds of him securing a place in the World Cup squad, set to be announced on September 5th, seem dim. Therefore, the team management is contemplating slotting Kishan in the No.4 or No.5 spot.

Since Shikhar Dhawan has not been in the team's plans since last December and Kishan, though primarily an opener, showcased his mettle by scoring a double century against Bangladesh, he has managed to secure his position as the third-choice opener. However, the composition of India's middle-order remains uncertain, with the top three spots seemingly secured by Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. This uncertainty is further compounded by the absence of Rahul, and even more so after Shreyas Iyer, a consistent performer at No.4, suffered an injury. Suryakumar Yadav's performance in that position also failed to impress.

As the team reached Kandy on Wednesday, they did not hold a training session on Thursday, reserving it for Friday evening. The forecast predicting moderate to heavy rainfall over the next three days has cast doubt over the India vs. Pakistan fixture. However, a promising sign emerged on Thursday when, despite ominous clouds hovering over the stadium during Sri Lanka's match against Bangladesh, rain was minimal, limited to a brief drizzle lasting a couple of minutes.

Turning attention to squad selection, having initially chosen a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, India needs to trim it down to 15 members. This process may lead to the omission of Tilak Varma and one of the seam bowling options. Given India's somewhat shallow batting lineup, the decision for the final pace bowling slot is likely to come down to a choice between Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna. Although Krishna presents an aggressive option for the middle overs, the team management places value on Thakur's batting abilities, which could prove crucial at certain stages. Unlike Pakistan, which managed to secure a victory against Afghanistan through contributions from their lower order, India lacks that level of depth in white-ball cricket.

tarun

Ishan Kishan struck three half-centuries in a row while opening vs West Indies.
Ishan Kishan will the wicketkeeper-batter for India against Pakistan and his position in the batting order is going to make for an interesting debate.