Former Indian Selector Saba Karim hailed young Indian wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan for his brilliant half-century against the West Indies in the 1st ODI of the three-match series. The 25-year-old showed a lot of composure to score runs in the tough wickets of Barbados on Thursday.
Winning the toss, India opted to bowl first on the wicket that had assistance for the bowlers, as the Indian bowlers utilized the conditions to their favour to bowl out the Men in Maroon for just 114 runs. With 115 runs to chase, Team India started the innings with new opening pair of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan of which the Southpaw played exceedingly well to score a second consecutive half-century in Carribean soil.
Speaking on Jiocinema, Saba Karim was surprised to see Ishan Kishan opening the innings for India in the 1st innings but lauded the move by the Indian team management as he can be seen as the backup opener in the team once KL Rahul returns to the fold and hailed the Left-handed batter for offering flexibility in the team.
“I did not expect him to open the innings. But good to see him being given the chance to open the innings and it adds to his value. I am presuming KL Rahul is your main wicketkeeper-batter and looking at Kishan as a backup gives the team so much flexibility,” Saba Karim said.
The Left-handed youngster can also be a backup opener in the Indian team along with wicket-keeping duty in the white ball format of the game as he brings different variety opening the innings. In ODI cricket has amassed 562 runs at a good average of 43.2 in 15 ODIs, including an outstanding 210-run knock in the game against Bangladesh, and can be a crucial player for the Indian team going forward.
Ishan Kishan Spent More Time In The Middle, His Confidence As A Batter… – Saba Karim
Saba Karim feels that Ishan Kishan can play as a reserve keeper and backup opener in the field as they do not want to pick another opener in the team and reckons that he would be high on confidence after his knock in the Caribbean soil.
“You can get Kishan as a reserve keeper who can bat in the middle order as well as be a backup opener for you. So, you do not have to pick another backup opener in your team.
“Because it becomes so challenging to pick 15 players, it comes in very handy. As he has spent more time in the middle, his confidence as a batter and keeper has increased,” Saba Karim added.
Ishan Kishan can be the perfect player for the Indian team as he brings versatility in the batting order and left-right combination into the play and the youngster has done a pretty decent job for the Indian team in the given opportunity.
The 24-year-old can also play as the wicket-keeper in the team, as he showed the ability to bat anywhere in the batting order.