/betbarter/media/agency_attachments/3YXcMKaocLoKtpo5Mw2o.png)
/betbarter/media/post_banners/1yrLIruGSwrvocgp20Py.jpg)
RP Singh (Source: Twitter)
With the 2023 World Cup fast approaching, Team India are in a rush to sort out their middle-order woes in ODIs. Injuries to key players KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been a headache for the selectors, who are yet to find replacements for India's No.4 and No.5. The right-hander suffered two injuries earlier this summer and has been sidelined since and their return is still uncertain.
While Shikhar Dhawan and Ravichandran Ashwin recently gave their suggestions for the replacement of Iyer at No. 4 - Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, respectively - Rahul's No. 5 position has received less attention. However, former India pacer RP Singh has come up with his choice for the mystery spot. The left-arm seamer has backed wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan to bat at No. 4 if Rahul does not recover in time.
“It doesn’t work out with just one chance. According to me, Ishan should play at No. 5 if you see him at No. 5 for the (ODI) World Cup. If KL Rahul is unavailable in the future, Ishan Kishan is his backup option,” Singh told JioCinema.
He has to learn to play at No. 5: RP Singh
However, contradicting the Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer's suggestion, Kishan did not get much exposure in the middle order as he was tested in the opening slot, where he shone. In the recently concluded three-match series against West Indies, Kishan opened alongside captain Rohit Sharma and the southpaw scored three consecutive half-centuries to lead India to a 2-1 win.
With Rishabh Pant also unavailable as he will take longer to recover from a tragic crash accident last December, Sanju Samson is India's other wicket-keeping option. But Singh believes Kishan will be the back-option and he is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the World Cup if Rahul is unavailable for the tournament. The 37-year-old highlighted that Kishan is unlikely to play as an opener and must learn to play lower down the order.
“So he has to learn to play at No. 5. When Rohit Sharma comes, Rohit and Shubman Gill will open, although Gill’s performance has slightly saddened our hearts. But still if both of them open, where can Ishan Kishan get a place, it is down the order,” Singh added.
Here's how fans reacted to RP Singh picking Ishan Kishan as India's No. 5 in the 2023 World Cup:
flat pitch bully
— Tushar Deshmukh🇮🇳 (@TusharD13626120) August 11, 2023
Mi quota
(Reach chahiye mereco isliye kar raha hu bakchodi😀)
Why not Sanju samson?
— Vivek (@Vivek_P_Singh) August 11, 2023
He has been given finisher role in T20i as well.
if KL is unavailable...There is no point in using an opener wicket keeper batsman instead of a No: 5 wicket keeper batsman.
— Agnibha Ganguly (@AgnibhaGanguly1) August 11, 2023
Why not Sanju samson?? Is there MI quota in team?
— Marklal Gada (@Markfeey) August 11, 2023
Killer KL will be available for World Cup , He will take his revenge on No-Seam shah 🔥🔥🔥 Ishan at 6 🔥🔥
— User45 (@140off113) August 11, 2023
Bhai pagal he Kya ?? World Cup he koi Zimbabwe ke samne matches nahi he
— विजय (@bijjuu11) August 11, 2023
Ye nhi chalega down the order.
— Abhinav singh (@Abhinav_tmk) August 11, 2023
All ex-cricketers after PR agencies of current middle order contenders started lobbying pic.twitter.com/nyhtcPSUun
— The Cricket Statistician (@CricketSatire) August 11, 2023
RP singh has a secret crush on Ishan Kishan
— Pratham (@JainnSaab) August 11, 2023