Kishan will bat against Pakistan in the middle order
India prefers Ishan, who is already guaranteed a spot in the squad, rather than creating selection issues by attempting Samson at No. 4, as the world cup roster will be selected on September 5.
Rahul Dravid invited the Indian team over for supper at his house last week during the team’s training camp in Bangalore. The following evening, players poured out of the elevator and gathered with head selector Ajit Agarkar and other support personnel. Ishan Kishan was the most upbeat of them all, making jokes, slapping people on the back, and overall being in a good mood.
For Ishan, these are good times. He has a chance to clinch a middle-order position in the world cup thanks to three consecutive half-centuries against the West Indies and injury niggles to leading candidates. And it will begin with the Asia Cup, when India plans to test him against Pakistan and Nepal at No. 4 or No. 5.
Ishan Kishan being forced to bat in the middle order is the latest experiment by the Indian team management as KL Rahul, who is recovering from a groin complaint, will miss the Asia Cup group stage. Although Sanju Samson has traveled with the team as a backup for Rahul, the team management intends to test Kishan in at No. 4 or 5 because they believe that his prospects of making the World Cup roster, which will be announced on September 5, are slim.
Shikhar Dhawan’s absence from the preparations since last December and Kishan’s double century against Bangladesh secured his position as the third-choice opener. However, with India’s middle-order lineup still up in the air and the top three of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli appearing to be fixed, the middle order’s make-up has remained a mystery, particularly in Rahul’s absence. Particularly following the injury to Shreyas Iyer, who had usually performed well at No. 4. And even more so since Suryakumar Yadav didn’t perform well in that role.
While participating in Samson would keep them in the flexible position that captain Rohit discussed in the news conference following the announcement of the Asia Cup, it is understood that the team management does not want to create more challenges thus close to the World Cup. Samson’s return into the running so close to the World Cup will create additional problems because Kishan’s position is already secured. The team management did contemplate switching up the top three earlier this year because Rahul’s availability was a major problem. Rohit or Kohli were both seriously considered to bat at position number four.
However, the Indian think-tank has opted not to overtake the top three after a week-long training at the KSCA facilities in Alur, on the outskirts of Bangalore. According to The Indian Express, Rohit did not want the top three to bat outside of their positions because they provided consistency at the top. Instead, the club management has chosen to test Kishan in the middle order since he is a left-hander and is not the team’s first-choice player in the starting XI.
Kishan averages only 22.75 in the six games he has played in the middle-order (at No. 4), and he frequently struggles early on against spinners. Kishan will be one of the team’s two backup batsmen, with Suryakumar Yadav being the other.
World Cup team selection
The senior national selection committee will reportedly convene on September 5, the day following India’s group match against Nepal, to decide the World Cup roster. On September 5, the participating countries are required to submit their squad lists to the International Cricket Council (ICC). All indications point to Kandy as the location of the meeting, with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar expected to arrive on Thursday.
India arrived in Kandy on Wednesday, but they didn’t train on Thursday and are slated to do so on Friday night. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the India vs. Pakistan match because forecasts call for moderate to heavy rains over the following three days. However, there was no rain on Thursday during Sri Lanka’s game against Bangladesh despite the stadium being covered in dark clouds. The only precipitation was a heavy drizzle that lasted for a few minutes.
Having chosen a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, India must reduce the squad to 15 with Tilak Varma and one of the choices for a seam bowler likely to be left out. The choice between Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna for the final pace bowling option will likely come down to that because India’s batting order lacks depth. Thakur’s batting will eventually be required, even though the latter can be used as an attacking option in the middle overs. Due to several cameos from their tail, Pakistan recently defeated Afghanistan in the final over, but India does not have the same luxury in white-ball cricket.
Before India’s match against Pakistan on Saturday, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is also anticipated to go to the mountainous area on Friday. He is likely to remain for the squad selection.
