India May Go For KL Rahul Over Ishan Kishan In The Final T20I: Sanjay Manjrekar
Published - 20 Mar 2021, 04:50 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:42 AM
Former Indian cricketer-turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has said that he would like Team India to play Ishan Kishan ahead of out-of-form opener KL Rahul in the series-decider but he reckoned that it’s unlikely that the management will bench the latter given the way they have backed him in the series thus far.
KL Rahul has endured a forgettable series thus far. The stylish opener has managed just 15 runs in four games thus far which includes two consecutive ducks.
Even in the last game, Rahul looked out of sorts as he scrapped his way to a 17-ball 14. Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, made his debut in the second T20I where he scored a match-winning half-century while opening the innings alongside KL Rahul.
Ishan was demoted to the No.3 spot in the following game as Rohit Sharma marched his way back in playing 11. The southpaw failed to replicate the heroics of his debut match before being ruled out of the 4th T20I due to a groin strain.
“It gets a bit tricky now considering that this a game both teams desperately want to win. I have a feeling Ishan Kishan may not play, which is unfortunate, and that niggle may have also helped the India team out because they want to keep backing KL Rahul,” said Sanjay Manjrekar on ESPNCricinfo.
They [India] want to give KL Rahul a long rope. He gets another game and they (the management) tell him that because you’re out of form and you’re a class player, you’ll get another game. But he doesn’t get the license to consume more balls than necessary. It’s good that his 14 off 17 [balls] didn’t come to hurt India but it hurt England for sure because that’s exactly what Malan got; 14 of 17 [balls]. I would love to have Ishan Kishan back if the niggle is out of the way but let’s see how it goes,” Manjrekar added.
The fifth and final T20I between India and England will take place on Saturday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
