Cricket

'Gai bhains paani me' - Fans react as India will reportedly play Ishan Kishan in middle order against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023

Young India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan finds himself in a pivotal role for India in the upcoming Asia Cup in 2023.

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Daniel S
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Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan (Source: Twitter)

Young India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan finds himself in a pivotal role for India in the upcoming Asia Cup in 2023. According to the latest news reports, he is set to play in the middle order in the absence of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul. Kishan's journey with the Indian cricket team has been nothing short of remarkable. In the last year, he has established himself as a crucial player in the one-day format.

The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter made headlines during the ODI series against the West Indies. In the three-match series, Kishan emerged as India's highest run-scorer. He notched up four consecutive half-centuries, including three in ODIs. However, those performances came while opening the inning, leading to questions about his adaptability in the middle order.

As India prepares for a high-stakes clash against Pakistan on September 2, the team management's decision to place their trust in Kishan is becoming evident. Reports suggest that he has been assigned the role of batting in the middle order. It's a position where Kishan has yet to prove his worth, which is why many find it unnecessary. Some fans and cricket pundits are expecting Sanju Samson in the middle order.

Ishan Kishan prepared for new challenges ahead of the Asia Cup

Despite his limited experience in the middle order, Kishan has been preparing for this challenge. He has been seen engaging in match simulations alongside all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya, indicating his commitment to adapting to this new role. During the five days of camp in Alur, Kishan has always seen batting with middle and lower middle-order batters.

The top three slots in the batting order are set in stone, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening the innings and Virat Kohli following them at number 3. Beyond that trio, the order will be decided based on the game's circumstances, with Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya set to play crucial roles.

However, the Asia Cup opener is under the shadow of unpredictable weather conditions, with an 80% chance of rain forecasted during the match. It's due to the impending Balagolla storm set to hit Kandy on Saturday. These conditions will add an additional layer of uncertainty to playing XI selections. It's worth noting that India will play their two group matches in Kandy only.

Here is how fans reacted to Ishan Kishan's middle-order performance:

Cricket News Featured Ishan Kishan Asia Cup 2023 IND Vs PAK