IND vs NZ: "Ishan Kishan Might Get A Place At No. 4" - Irfan Pathan Feels Team Management Should Stick With Rohit Sharma And Shubman Gill At The Top

India will host a white-ball series against New Zealand, with the first ODI of the three-match series scheduled to be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on Wednesday, January 18. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that the Men in Blue should stick with captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, as Ishan Kishan does not fit in the top order.

Shubman Gill was picked ahead of in-form batsman Ishan Kishan, who scored the fastest double-century in his last innings, and has justified his selection with his performances in the series. The 23-year-old scored a half-century in the first ODI and smashed the second century of his ODI career with 116 runs off 97 balls with 14 fours and two sixes in the final match.

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Shreyas Iyer Might Have To Go Slightly Down – Irfan Pathan

During a discussion on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan said that Ishan Kishan should bat at 4 in the batting order as there is no place for him in the top order. The former Indian all-rounder believes that the wicketkeeper-batter should not bat below No. 4.

“He will not play at the top because you don’t want to touch Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the top. Virat Kohli will be at No. 3. So where do we have a place, at No. 4? I feel he might get a place at No. 4, Shreyas Iyer might have to go slightly down,” Irfan Pathan said.

“The discussion will be only between No. 4 and No. 5. I don’t see Ishan Kishan batting below No. 4. The Indian team might do that but he bats up the order, you can get him to bat maximum at No. 4 but not below that,” he added.

KL Rahul was not part of the ODI series against New Zealand due to family commitments and was replaced by Srikar Bharat. The left-handed batsman is likely to be picked ahead of Bharat in the middle order in the three-match series.

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Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah