Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra is skeptical that Ishan Kishan will be India’s backup opener and wicketkeeper-batter in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which will be held from October 5 to November 19.
Kishan has been named as one of India’s 17-man team for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Notably, he is projected to be one of India’s backup openers for the 50-over World Cup as well.
Kishan is a ‘obvious’ candidate for India’s ODI squad, according to Chopra. The former India opener is dubious whether the keeper-batter is a favourite to take over as backup opener.
Aakash Chopra comments on Ishan Kishan
“There is another left-hander. His name is Ishan Kishan. Prima facie, it seems like he is an obvious choice because you have to keep three openers – so Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, and Rohit Sharma. Ishan Kishan is a frontrunner logically, but is he a frontrunner?,”
Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Kishan deserves a position in the squad, according to Aakash Chopra, who noted that the 25-year-old recorded an ODI double-century.
“Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will open and Ishan Kishan can be your backup opener. From a discussion point of view, it is absolutely right – he has scored an ODI double century, he pulls his weight into the side whenever given a chance, so his name should be there,”
the 45-year-old added.
Kishan has 510 runs at an excellent 42.50 average in 14 ODIs, including a double century, a century, and three fifties. In the 50-over format, his best score was a 210-run knock against Bangladesh in December 2022.
However, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) chose opener Shubman Gill ahead of him in India’s next One-Day International (ODI) match.
Notably, Gill’s double century against New Zealand cemented his place as India’s ODI opener. He has 1,311 runs in 24 ODIs at a phenomenal average of 64.55, with five half-centuries and four centuries.
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