Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir is known for his outspoken nature.
Gambhir has weighed in with his views on the Indian team’s composition, especially regarding the openers.
Not surprisingly, there is no place for KL Rahul.
Instead, Gambhir’s choice to open the innings in the ODIs, along with Rohit Sharma is Ishan Kishan.
In his most recent match against Bangladesh in Chattogram, Kishan turned his first ODI century into a career-high 210.
The wicketkeeper-batter hit a double hundred in just 126 balls, the fastest in ODI history.
Gambhir believes the fastest double hundred that Ishan Kishan hit in the 3rd ODI against Bangladesh has given him the edge over Shubman Gill and KL Rahul.
This s more so, as Shikhar Dhawan appears to be out of contention, after being dropped from India’s ODI squad for the Sri Lanka home series.
“I’m amazed we’re discussing this because someone’s got a double-hundred in the previous innings. The discussion is over.”, Gambhir said.
It has to be Ishan Kishan. Someone who can get a double-hundred in those conditions against a reasonable attack, especially at home, should play.”Â
Kishan received a call-up for India’s three-match ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka starting from January 3 to January 15.
“He got what 200 by the 35th over mark? You can’t look at anyone beyond Ishan Kishan. He has to be given a longer run.”
“He can also keep wickets as well, so he can do two jobs for you.”
Gambhir is also upbeat about Suryakumar Yadav.
Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s batting in the 50-over format not being as remarkable as his T20 performances, Gambhir thinks he may still be a valuable asset at No. 4.
Suryakumar has scored 384 runs in 16 ODIs, with just two half-centuries.
“It’s very difficult to look beyond Rohit and Ishan Kishan to open the batting, Virat at three, Surya at four, [and] Shreyas at five, because he’s been incredible in the last one-and-a-half years.”
“Yes, he’s had issues against the short ball, but he’s been able to manage it. You can’t be the best against everything but if you’re able to manage it and got the numbers going for you, you can’t look beyond Shreyas at No. 5 and Hardik [Pandya] at 6,” Gambhir said of his ideal India XI.
Well, all we can say is that the debates in Indian cricket never end!
