Ishan Kishan has got a chance to play in the middle order in the 3-match ODI series being played between India and Afghanistan. Ishaan batted in the first ODI on the number-3 slot vacant due to Virat Kohli’s injury. He scored an impressive 34 runs in 22 balls in the chase of 195 runs, which included 3 fours and a six. After this, in the second match of the series played in Lucknow, Ishaan was placed at number four. This left handed wicketkeeper batsman performed brilliantly here too and scored a century in 71 balls.
It took 52 balls for Ishaan to reach 50 runs. After this, he paced his innings brilliantly and scored 50 runs in the next 19 balls, scoring the second century of his ODI career. This was his first ODI century after his explosive innings of 210 runs against Bangladesh in December 2022. Ishaan was out after scoring 125 runs. He faced 79 balls and hit 14 fours and 7 sixes. With this explosive innings, he has staked his strong claim for next year’s World Cup.
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Will you enter like T20 World Cup?
Ishaan was playing for India in every format till the end of 2023 but due to BCCI’s displeasure, he had to face exile for 2 years. After scoring a lot of runs in domestic cricket, he was included in Team India for the New Zealand series and T20 World Cup earlier this year. Ishaan took full advantage of this opportunity and now he has confirmed his place in the Indian T20 team.
He was the second highest scorer in India’s T20 World Cup victory. He scored 317 runs in 9 innings at a strike rate of 193.29. After T20 International, Ishaan has now shown his strength in One Day International also. It remains to be seen whether head coach Gautam Gambhir is able to give him consistent opportunities in the ODI team like in T20.
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Where is the space for Ishaan?
It is difficult for Ishaan to make a place in the middle order in the Indian ODI team. It will not be easy to fit Ishaan in the playing XI after Kohli returns from injury. He can be prepared as a backup opener. It is not decided whether Rohit Sharma, who is 39 years old, will be kept in the team till the World Cup or not. Rohit has made a good start in the first two matches against Afghanistan but he has been unlucky. In the first ODI played in Dharamshala, he was run out due to a misunderstanding with captain Shubman Gill. Rohit returned to the pavilion after scoring 16 runs in 16 balls.
Rohit batted explosively in the second ODI. He scored 48 runs in 39 balls, which included 6 fours and 2 sixes. It was thought that he would play a big innings on the Pata pitch but he got caught on an excellent ball by Rashid Khan and was clean bowled. Rohit has looked in form but due to his increasing age there are question marks over him. If he is not included in the World Cup plans, Ishan will face challenge from Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening slot. Yashasvi was played as an opener in the second ODI, where he could score only 4 runs in 9 balls. His recent form has not been good but it also has to be kept in mind that he has been around the team as a backup opener for a long time.
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Who will be sacrificed if Ishaan is fitted in the middle order?
KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are the strong pillars of the middle order of the Indian team. Rahul also handles the responsibility of wicketkeeping. If Rahul is made to sit out for Ishaan, it will be unfair to him. Rahul has also proved himself as a finisher. He has been scoring runs continuously at number-5. Shreyas Iyer has performed well for India in the last two ICC tournaments in the ODI format but his fitness is always under question. Shreyas has now become the captain of the T20 team. In such a situation, to focus on the T20 format, he can be rested from the ODI team and Ishaan can be tried in his place.
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