Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian Cricketer, has stated his desire for Ishan Kishan to open the innings with captain Rohit Sharma in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. The series will begin on January 18, 2023.
In the previous ODI series against Sri Lanka, Shubman Gill secured the opening position with Indian captain Rohit Sharma, and Ishan Kishan was skipped away. After this, the Indian Cricket Management was criticized by the fans and by the experts as well.
The 57-year-old gave a response to a query regarding the opening position of team India during a discussion on the Star Sports show “Game Plan.” He suggested a solution that involved Virat Kohli dropping down the batting order in order for Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill to play for the team.
Manjrekar explained, “It’s going to be still tricky. One guy is going to be really upset. I have got an idea to sort this mess out. Have Shubman Gill bat at No. 3, he seems like he can handle that position, and then Virat Kohli sacrifices his No. 3 for a No. 4.”
Sanjay Manjrekar replied when asked about Kohli giving up his No. 3 spot for No. 4 that Kishan can definitely be explosive in the top order. He later said that Kohli had already given up his No. 3 position for the team in the past.
“He has done that before to Ambati Rayudu once, many years back against Sri Lanka. So that could be a way to sort it out. Ishan Kishan after his double hundred, left and right-handed combination at the top is not such a bad idea.”
