This year when MI bought Ishan Kishan for an enormous INR 15.25 crores (the highest for any Indian) everyone wondered if MI has made a mistake. With the season not going very well for him except for a few matches, a lot of questions were raised. However, as big players missed the SA series KL Rahul also got injured, and Ishan got a chance to open for team India. The MI batter has scored 76 and 34 in the two matches, contributing heavily to the Indian side. Although India couldn’t win a match, he is the leading run-scorer in the series so far. Ishan Kishan stunned everyone and Gautam Gambhir now backs him to open in the T20 WC 2022.
Earlier, Ishan had made it clear that he does give his all in the practice sessions and tries to perform well for the country whenever he gets a chance. “I think they (Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul) are world-class players and I won’t ask for my spot when they are there in the team,” he says.
Gautam Gambhir calls Ishan Kishan opening alongside Rohit ‘a temptation’
Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir opened up about what combinations he thinks India should open with, in the upcoming T20 WC 2022. He praised the 23-year-old batter’s fearless approach and how he always tries to put those quick important runs for the Indian team in the chances he gets since his debut last year. Moreover, he suggests having Ishan Kishan play in Australian conditions would benefit India heavily.
“Absolutely. We will have to see if Team India persists with him when KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli come. Will you be tempted to start with him along with Rohit Sharma and play KL Rahul in the middle order? That is a temptation. You always talk about an X-factor, a fearless approach, whether he scores runs or not, he (Kishan) brings a fearless approach. I will definitely want to persist with him. Australian conditions – bouncy wickets, he likes to play the pull shots, hits the length ball well. So you should probably persist with him till the World Cup.”
Gautam Gambhir
“If someone plays a destructive hook or pull shot in the Indian circuit after Rohit Sharma, it is Ishan Kishan”: Sanjay Bangar
Former Indian bowling coach, Sanjay Bangar reckons that Ishan can be a force to deal with if he works a little on his front foot game. The expert also feels that Ishan will be an asset in the Australian conditions.
“I don’t think there is a problem in the way he plays the short ball. I feel he should pay more attention to the front foot shots, his back foot game is already settled. Also,I believe if someone plays a destructive hook or pull shot in the Indian circuit after Rohit Sharma, it is Ishan Kishan. The more the bowlers feed him in that area, his confidence will keep on growing. He has to sort out his front foot game slightly. If he focuses more on the front foot game, I feel he can bat exceedingly well in Australian conditions.”
Sanjay Bangar
