Former Indian opener Robin Uthappa urged the Indian team management to play the in-form Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan in all the games of the Asia Cup 2023 which will help him gain more confidence going into the ODI World Cup in India.
Ignoring Ishan Kishan from the starting lineup for the next games would be difficult for the Indian team management as he has performed well in the 50-over format by hitting four half-centuries in a row. In ODI cricket, Kishan has shown versatility by batting for India at various places and stages of the innings.
During a discussion with Espncricinfo, Robin Uthappa wants Ishan Kishan to play him throughout the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka and reckons that KL Rahul, who is making a return, may play the three-match series against Australia before the ODI World Cup on home soil.
“Ishan Kishan needs to have confidence going into the ODI World Cup, so I will play him throughout this tournament. I will urge the team management to play KL Rahul in all three matches against Australia instead,” Robin Uthappa said.
KL Rahul is set to return to the Indian team for the Super 4 stage of the tournament after a long-standing injury that he picked up during IPL 2023. Due to an injury, he was sidelined for the majority of the 2023 season, but he’s working hard to get healthy again in time for the World Cup.
I Will Be Difficult To Play Both Ishan Kishan And KL Rahul In The Indian Line-up – Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa believes that it would be difficult for the team management to play both Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul in the playing 11 at the Continental event with the middle order batter Shreyas Iyer also returning from the injury and believes that he should be in the Indian team’s mix going into the mega event in India.
“It will be difficult to play both Kishan and KL in the Indian line-up at the Asia Cup because Shreyas Iyer has also just returned from injury. He is a very good player and he needs to be in the mix for India’s sake. Shreyas Iyer needs to be given more chances,” Robin Uthappa added.
Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul will now have to compete for a spot in the playing 11 at the Super 4 stage in Island Nation and it will be interesting to see whether India bring in the Karnataka batter for the game against Pakistan in Colombo.