IND vs PAK: "He Should Be Given A..." - Ravichandran Ashwin Pops Up A 'Million-Dollar' Question Related To KL Rahul

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin talked about the Indian combination for the ICC World Cup 2023. He said that if the team has selected KL Rahul they need to give him a fair run going into the tournament.

India recently announced the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023. The main talking point has been about the keeper’s spot as both KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan have been named in the team. Team management will be facing a lot of headaches about whom to play in the XI.

Ishan Kishan made his case strong for the Indian team after his high-quality knock against Pakistan in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023 clash. The left-hander played a magnificent innings under pressure and scored 82 runs when the team was tumbling at 66/4.

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Ishan Kishan played in the absence of KL Rahul and cashed in the opportunity with both hands. Rahul however, has returned and his record at No.5 is something that many teams crave for. The batter averages around 55 at the same position and has done a really good job.

Ravichandran Ashwin admits that including KL Rahul in the playing 11 will be a million-dollar question. But he admits that management needs to give him a long run as they have picked him as an important player. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:

“When you have selected KL Rahul knowing that he is an important player, then he should be given a fair run. How will the team give him that is the million-dollar question. If he is in the playing XI, then people should not say that there is too much chopping and changing.”

IND vs PAK: This is not a competition between Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson – Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin also went on to laud Ishan Kishan for his heroics against Pakistan. While touting him as a two-dimensional player, he said that his presence allows India to have a left-hander in the middle. He added:

“This is not a competition between Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, because Kishan fills so many roles. When you pick a 15-member squad, you need to pick a backup wicket-keeper. Even when we pick a Ranji Trophy squad, we pick two wicket-keepers.

“So, Ishan Kishan is also a back-up opener along with being a back-up wicket-keeper, he is two-in-one player. Now that Ishan Kishan has succeeded at No. 5, it gives India two left-handers in the middle order. Everyone was going gaga over left-handers and they were saying Ishan Kishan cannot bat at No.5, but he has delivered now.”

Here’s India’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2023

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.