Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has explored the possibility of playing both KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan in the same XI for the WC. Kishan has pressed his case for selection after playing a valiant knock against Pakistan in the Asia Cup match last week. With India struggling at one stage, Kishan scored 82 while batting at No.5 to put his side back in the contest. However, fans and pundits have been divided on the debate over whether Ishan has pipped Rahul in the XI for the marquee event at home.
Kishan, who holds the record for scoring the fastest double hundred in ODIs, has been superb with the bat in 2023. He scored three half-centuries while opening during the West Indies tour in July-August.
Rahul, on the other hand, has been out of action since May. He had pulled up his hamstring during an IPL 2023 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
He has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He is expected to be available for selection for India’s Super 4 match against Pakistan on Sunday, after missing the group matches due to a niggle.
While the team management has been tight-lipped on who is currently at the first-choice keeper, India captain Rohit had hinted at the possibility of playing both Rahul and Kishan in the same XI while announcing India’s World Cup squad.
“There will be an opportunity, why not? As long as everyone is available to play, everyone is able to play, selection depends on the opposition, a player’s current form and those who have performed under pressure, because how do you get those runs is also important Look at Ishan’s knock, for his confidence that was brilliant. Under pressure, batting at No. 5 for the first time and a left-hander who gives us another dimension. We consider all that factor when choosing a player XI,” Rohit had said during a press conference in Kandy.
Former India selector Srikkanth named his possible playing XI for the World Cup and included both Kishan and Rahul.
He picked Rahul at No. 4 and snapped Shreyas Iyerand kept Ishan at No.5, after his impressive knock against Pakistan.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth’s India batting line-up for World Cup playing XI:
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat KohliKL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja/Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami
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