Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has raised his concern regarding the decision-making and preparation of the Indian team going into the all-important ODI World Cup year in India. Team India has been blown hot and cold in all three formats failing to produce an impactful performance in the ICC events as their last trophy came in the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Since India has advanced to the ODI World Cup semifinals in 2015, the T20 World Cup final in 2016, the ODI World Cup final in 2019, and the 2021 and 2023 WTC Final but could not go one step further in the big tournaments as the team fell short of the title, despite doing well in the league stages of the tournament.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra feels that India is still uncertain about their combinations going into the Asia Cup 2023 and believes that Ishan Kishan is unlikely to open the batting as they have got settled openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top of the order as they are no pointing in dropping Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli lower down the order.
“It feels like the debacle of the 2022 T20 World Cup is repeating now. That is my big worry.”
“Ishan Kishan is unlikely to open the batting at the WC. I’ll be really surprised if Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill open the batting and Rohit drops down to the middle order. I don’t agree with this at all. Should Virat Kohli drop down from No. 3, again absolutely no,” Aakash Chopra said.
Ishan Kishan has done phenomenally well for the Indian team in the ODI Cricket in the limited opportunities. As a left-hander can be crucial for India as he can play both in the top and middle order and can change the complexion of a match quickly but has less experience playing in high-pressure matches for India.
There Is A Temptation With Shubman Gill – Ishan Kishan Because Of Left-Right Combination – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra feels that they would temptation by the India team management to have a left-right combination but reckons that they are no vacant place in the batting order and raised his concern about Ishan Kishan’s number playing at the No.4 position.
“There is a temptation with Gill-Ishan because of the left-right combination, but there just is no place anywhere in the batting order. As much as I love Kishan, he is brilliant while opening, but his numbers at No.4 are worrying. If you don’t play him more at No.4 and plan to use him at No.4 during WC, it does not add up at all,” Aakash Chopra added.
Ishan Kishan has amassed 617 runs at a good average of 44.07 in 16 ODIs, including an outstanding 210-run knock in the game against Bangladesh, and can be a crucial player for the Indian team going forward but most of his runs come has come at the top of the order.