IPL 2021: Ishan Kishan Is Better Playing At No. 4 Than Krunal Pandya- Aakash Chopra Suggests Mumbai Indians Drop The All-Rounder For Clash vs CSK

Former India batsman, Aakash Chopra feels that Ishan Kishan should have been given a longer rope and that he is a better batsman to bat at number 4, than Krunal Pandya, who Mumbai Indians (MI) promoted in their last match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Rohit Sharma brought in Nathan Coulter Nile to strengthen their bowling attack replacing out of form Ishan Kishan, who has scored 73 runs in the 5 matches at Chennai at a strike rate of 82.95. While chasing 172, MI pushed Krunal Pandya up at number 4, and he delivered – scoring 39 runs off 26 balls in a match-winning 63-run stand with Quinton de Kock.

Aakash Chopra, though, opines that Kishan should come in place of the senior Pandya when Mumbai take on the table leaders Chennai Super Kings on Saturday in Delhi.

Get Ishan Kishan instead of Krunal against CSK: Aakash Chopra

The 43-year-old based his statement on the fact that not only Kishan is a better batsman than Krunal, he believes, but also that Krunal will not be effective with the ball against the left-handed heavy batting line-up of the Super Kings – he pointed out that Krunal bowled only a single over against the Royals who had the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube.

Hence, Aakash Chopra strongly believes that Kishan, who recently sparkled on his India debut, should come back in the line-up against CSK, and if MI decide to retain Coulter Nile, he feels, it should be Krunal who should face the axe despite his impressive batting show in the previous game.

“It was certainly interesting that they dropped [Kishan] in the last match. They have enough bowlers but Krunal Pandya batting at No.4. Personally, I don’t like the idea. Not that I don’t like Krunal Pandya but my issue is that if you are playing him to bat at No.4, then Ishan is better,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube video.

“And if you have kept him for bowling, then you gave him just the one over. The opposition team will have left-handers here as well. Firstly you will have Moeen Ali, then Suresh Raina, and then Jaddu and Sam Curran. So, you will not be able to bowl Krunal Pandya much here as well.

“If that is the case, you should continue to play Jayant, keep the rest also the same and get Ishan Kishan instead of Krunal. Ishan looked alright in Chennai also, he was not doing that bad. Other than that, I don’t see scope of any other change in this team,” the former opener concluded.

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