Asia Cup 2023
Gautam Gambhir comes up with fiery response to Mohammad Kaif over Ishan Kishan vs KL Rahul debate
Ishan Kishan on Saturday proved his worth during the key India vs. Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2023. The 25-year-old left-hander scored 82 runs off 81 balls to help India out of the hole. Kishan became the topic of debate after the end of the game with the impending return of KL Rahul.
Ishan Kishan originally wasn’t supposed to be part of the playing XI against Pakistan. The reason for his inclusion was due to KL Rahul wasn’t cleared and passed as fit. This meant the 31-year-old from Karnataka had to miss the game against Pakistan.
Former Indian teammates Mohammad Kaif and Gautam Gambhir were seen sharing their thoughts on the game. During the course of the interaction, Kaif and Gambhir were seen getting involved in a discussion about Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul.
Gambhir’s response to Kaif over his comments on KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan –
Ishan Kishan played well to score yet another ODI half-century for India to continue his good form. Despite scoring 82, former India batter, Mohammad Kaif wasn’t convinced with Ishan Kishan.
Kaif had this to say during the Star Sports show “KL Rahul is a proven match-winner. At number 5, his numbers are fabulous. So Rahul Dravid knows, there is that clarity in his mind that remember. Mohammad Shami was dropped today, so when KL Rahul is fit again he will be in the playing XI, and Ishan Kishan will have to wait for his next opportunity”
Kaif further said “Ishan is doing all that he needs. He scored in that series against West Indies. His graph is only going up and is getting better by the day. He has a double century to his name as well. He has class and talent but he cannot replace Rahul yet because the latter is not playing because of bad form, but due to injury”
At this point, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir stepped into the conversation and said “To win the World Cup, name is more important or form? Had Kohli or Rohit made those four consecutive fifties, would you have said the same thing about KL Rahul? When you are preparing to win a World Cup, you don’t look at a name, you look at the form of a player that could win you the trophy”
Ishan Kishan made his ODI debut for India in 2021 and after a slow start made his presence felt. Kishan scored a memorable 210 during the 3rd ODI during the tour of Bangladesh. In 2023 Kishan has played 8 games scoring 299 runs with 4 half-centuries.
Ishan Kishan has an average of 42 and a strike rate close to 100 in 2023. Before his 82 against Pakistan, the left-hander had scored 3 consecutive half-centuries. Ishan Kishan had scored 52 and 55 at Barbados before scoring 77 in Trinidad during the ODI series against West Indies.
