Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim stated that the selectors for the upcoming Asia Cup and subsequent ICC Cricket World Cup should take KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer into consideration. Considering Ishan Kishan who is in terrific form and has good wicket-keeping abilities then can be a potential replacement for Rahul if he doesn’t get fit in the meantime.
According to Saba Karim, Ishan Kishan might step in as a potential replacement for KL Rahul if the latter is unavailable for the forthcoming major events. The ex-cricketer shared his perspective that Kishan has the capacity to both open the innings and slot into the middle order.
“The selectors should take KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer into consideration — they can be included in the team if they are fit. But the wait has not ended, the team will be announced on the 20th from what I know, they have the time until then,” he said.
Talking about Ishan Kishan, Karim added that he might provide a good option to the team as an opening batsman. He said:
“But if they are not fit, Ishan Kishan is a good option against Rahul since he can bat as an opener and in the middle-order,” Karim was quoted as saying by India Today.
In the just-finished three-match ODI series against the West Indies, Ishan Kishan’s performance was nothing short of amazing. India gained victory with a 2-1 score, and Kishan was a crucial contributor to this accomplishment. With a remarkable performance, Kishan gathered 3 consecutive fifties in the three-match ODI series and claimed the Player of the Series award. His cumulative tally of 184 runs made him India’s leading run-scorer for the series. Notably, he had also debuted in the Test arena in the preceding two-match series against the West Indies.
Reflecting on the scenario, Karim further observed that if Shreyas Iyer fails to recover from injury in time, there are other feasible possibilities for his replacement. Among these alternatives, Suryakumar Yadav stands out as a promising prospect. Yadav’s benefit rests in his experience, having played ODIs both in the domestic circuit and at the international stage. This makes him a fitting contender, as emphasized by Karim.
“If Shreyas Iyer is not fit, you have 2-3 options to pick from, in Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Suryakumar Yadav. But for me, Suryakumar has gained experience of playing one-day cricket both domestically and internationally. I will still back Suryakumar Yadav,” Karim added.
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