Last Update: January 15, 2023, 3:01 PM IST
Ishan Kishan has been included in India’s Test squad for the Australia series. (AP Photo)
India will host Australia for a four-match Test series next month
With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to recuperate at a Mumbai hospital after suffering multiple injuries following an accident in December, the Indian team management will have to find a suitable replacement for the wicketkeeper-batsman. There is a big challenge. While there are plenty of options, not everyone has the skills that make Pant a potent weapon with the bat in red-ball cricket as he can accelerate at will and provide a reliable counterattack option.
While KS is the designated backup to Bharat Pant, the Indian team management handed Ishan Kishan a maiden Test call-up after his impressive performances in white-ball cricket and former India Captain Mohammad Azharuddin believes that he has a good chance of making it to the playing XI.
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“Ishan Kishan has been selected in the Indian Test team based on his recent form, I think he will be a strong contender for the wicket-keeper batsman option. He is a left-handed batsman,” Azhar was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI,
Azhar also feels that India should not have benched Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan for the first two ODIs of the Sri Lanka series, considering their form.
“When a player is in form, it is not right to keep him on the bench. Suryakumar Yadav has the ability to play for the Indian team in all three formats. He did well in his last Ranji match as well.”
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“As much as I have seen Suryakumar bat, I can say that like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, he can play in all the three formats. After a long time India has got such a batsman who can play in all formats. It is very difficult to make a place in the team and both these players will have to prove themselves if they get a place in the team.
The Australia Test series starts in Nagpur from 9 February.
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