Former opener Gautam Gambhir has thrown his support behind Ishan Kishan as his choice in the Indian XI in the upcoming World Cup, ahead of KL Rahul.
“Ishan Kishan has done everything he needs to be a frontrunner. Just because he is Ishan Kishan and hasn’t played a lot of international cricket, you’re saying that KL Rahul should play before him. But if Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma were in place of Kishan, would Rahul be able to replace them? The answer is ‘no’,” Gambhir said while speaking on Star Sports.
Kishan secured a spot as the wicketkeeper in the 15-member World Cup squad, alongside Rahul, while Sanju Samson was left out. Captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar unveiled the squad and expressed confidence in Rahul’s fitness, despite earlier concerns.
Kishan’s inclusion is based on improvements in his game and ability to adapt to multiple roles in the batting order across all three formats. He performed when Rahul and Rishabh Pant were sidelined due to injuries. Kishan has notched up four consecutive half-centuries in his last four ODI innings, including a gritty 82 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. He has played aggressively at the top and under pressure in the middle-order.
As the World Cup nears, competition between Kishan and the now-fit Rahul for the first-choice wicketkeeper’s position adds an intriguing dimension to the build-up. This critical decision will be a subject of keen interest, as India gears up for the tournament.