In KL Rahul’s absence, Ishan Kishan will preserve the wickets towards Pakistan and Nepal. (Credits: AFP)
KL Rahul is ready to overlook the Asia Cup 2023 video games towards Pakistan and Nepal, and thus Ishan Kishan is prone to preserve the wickets, however the place will the Jharkhand batter match?
India head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that KL Rahul is not going to be obtainable for the crew’s first two Asia Cup fixtures towards Pakistan and Nepal respectively. The wicketkeeper-batter is not going to be travelling with the remainder of the squad and a name on his participation shall be taken on September 4.
“He has had a really good week with us, really trained well, he is progressing well on the route we want to take but he will be unavailable for the Kandy leg of the trip. The NCA will be looking after him for the next few days while we are travelling. We will reassess on the 4th and then take it from there. But the signs are looking good and he is progressing really well,” Dravid said in a media interaction after Team India’s skill-based camp ended in Alur.
The 31-year-old participated in the camp, did both keeping and batting but the management wants to follow a cautious approach. They are not willing to take any risk with regards to Rahul who lends a lot of balance to the side and strength to the middle-order.
“The way we are looking at it is actually just two less games that he is going to miss. Both him (Rahul) and Shreyas are in the same boat. He is really batting well, keeping well, he is doing everything, it’s just a slightly more cautious approach leading into the World Cup,” Dravid additional defined.
ALSO READ| Asia Cup 2023, Group A Preview: India and Pakistan Eye Title, Nepal Hope to Leave an Impression
KL Rahul will undergo some match simulations when the team flies to Sri Lanka and Dravid is hoping to have him back in the squad for remainder of Asia Cup and then the Australia series which precedes the ODIs.
“He will have a couple of match simulations over the next few days which will give him longer time out there in the middle. We are hoping that it’s just two games that he misses and should be available for the latter part of the tour, there is an Australia series as well. I’m not too worried about it,” stated Dravid.
The Ishan Kishan query
With Rahul unavailable, India have to fill within the wicketkeeper-batter slot and still have somebody within the middle-order, extra particularly the No.5 place. Ishan Kishan was the opposite wicketkeeper-batter within the Asia Cup squad and the left-hander is prone to get a success within the middle-order. Yes, there’s Sanju Samson too as a travelling reserve however Kishan is extra prone to get the nod forward of the right-hander.
ALSO READ| ‘Does Ishan Kishan Open?’: Chopra Stirs Debate on Batting Order in KL Rahul’s Absence
The massive query, nevertheless, goes to be the place the administration matches Kishan. The aggressive southpaw has batted at high of the order for Team India and loved a lot of the success within the place. In case a spot is created for him at high of the order, the remainder of the batting order goes for a toss and the steadiness, which this crew desperately wants forward of the multi-nation occasion, will stay a far cry.
A floating function?
Rohit Sharma and Co. can effectively look to make use of Kishan as a floater and never tinker an excessive amount of with the batting order. With Rohit and Shubman Gill most certainly to open and Virat Kohli at No.3, Shreyas Iyer should bat at No.4 adopted by the likes of Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. The first 4 ought to get a constant run in the identical place whereas the remainder of the batting will be rotated as per match-ups and scenario. Something which Rohit had emphasised on throughout his presser after Asia Cup squad announcement.
“One factor I would like on this crew is to verify everyone seems to be okay to bat wherever. That’s one factor we want to remember. You want flexibility, guys who can step up at any place. No one ought to say, ‘I’m good at this place or I’m good at that place’. You need guys to have the ability to bat wherever, that’s the message conveyed to each particular person. Not now, however over the past three-four years,” Rohit had stated in New Delhi.
ALSO READ| ‘Between KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer..’: Rahul Dravid Silences ‘Experimentation’ Debate Ahead of Asia Cup
The skipper further explained that by flexibility he didn’t mean openers batting at No.8 and vice-versa. He wants the squad to be ready to counter different match-ups and situations. The Asia Cup is an opportunity to put the flexibility to test and make judicious use of the batting muscle of Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan and Ravindra Jadeja. More importantly, use them at the right place at the right time.
Sahil MalhotraReport all issues cricket for CNN-News18 CricketSubsequent & have extensively coated the sport from grassroots stage for 10+ yrs. Cricket in whites is s…Read More
Source: www.news18.com
