IND vs PAK: "He Was Player Of The Tournament In IPL 2020..." - Ravichandran Ashwin Backs Ishan Kishan To Play In Middle-order

The veteran India National Cricket Team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has reminded everyone of the wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan’s ability to bat in the middle-order, saying that he was the Player of the Tournament for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

India National Cricket Team will take on arch-rivals Pakistan National Cricket Team in their Asia Cup opener on Saturday, September 2, at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan have already announced their playing XI for the blockbuster match while India will have to make some tough decisions during the team selection. The wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, who is India’s designated No.5 in ODIs, has been ruled out of the first two fixtures of the tournament and Ishan Kishan will most likely replace him in the team.

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However, Kishan’s batting position is an area of concern for the team as his best has come whenever he has opened and his numbers in the middle-order have been mediocre. The other big decision India need to make is regarding the third pacer’s slot as among Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur only three can play.

You guys keep saying experiment – Ravichandran Ashwin

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin reminded everyone that Kishan was brilliant in the middle-order for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020.

“You guys keep saying experiment. England look the strongest and balanced team in ODIs at the moment, but even they don’t experiment. They have the same top 3. They will experiment maybe after 30 overs.

“Don’t forget, Ishan Kishan was the player of the tournament in IPL 2020 for Mumbai Indians in Dubai. But he batted at No.4. He did not open the innings,” he said.

Notably, Ashwin was not entirely correct as Kishan also opened the innings for the Mumbai Indians during the 2020 edition of IPL. As an opener, he scored 139 runs in four games with two fifties and while batting at No. 4, he scored 314 runs in nine games at an average of 44.9.