In the India Cricket Team musical chair, Ishan Kishan has had a fair run. While he has proven his mettle in the ODIs, the same hasn’t been the case in T20Is. As Rishabh Pant continues his recovery from a near-fatal car crash, Team India are still in search of a wicketkeeper-batter in T20Is. With no trust in Sanju Samson’s abilities and rest to KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan has got a shot in the arm. But these five matches in the IND vs AUS T20 series could be his last chance saloon as Jitesh Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh are waiting in the wings.
In the battle of wicketkeeper-batters, Ishan Kishan has not offered any confidence in the last 12 months. While his numbers in ODIs are among some of the best, in T20Is, he is averaging 12.12. Although he has only played eight matches in these 12 months, an average of 12.12 with a strike rate of 89.81 is not something one would expect.
India Cricket Team will play exactly 11 T20Is in the lead-up to T20 World Cup 2024 next June. While IPL 2024 will play a big role in the selection process, Team India can only tinker with the combination in T20Is against Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan.
Last chance saloon for Ishan Kishan?
The fight for a wicketkeeper’s spot has been a tough one in Rishabh Pant’s absence. While Ishan Kishan seemed the de-facto keeper-batter, he hasn’t really cashed in.
Instead, he has to fight with Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh. If KL Rahul returns to the T20I fold in South Africa, he is likely to be the designated keeper-batter. Hence, the next five T20Is will be crucial for Ishan Kishan.
With Rishabh Pant likely to return in IPL 2024, the competition will only get tougher for the Jharkhand man. The last IPL was a decent one but not up to the standards the youngster had set. Ishan scored 454 runs at 30.27 and a strike rate of 142.77. And before another IPL comes up, Ishan has to grab the opportunity.
Players fighting for WK-batter role in T20Is
- KL Rahul (Rested)
- Ishan Kishan (Playing in IND vs AUS T20)
- Jitesh Sharma (Playing in IND vs AUS T20)
- Prabhsimran Singh (Not selected)
- Sanju Samson (Not selected)
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