Gautam Gambhir fires on team selection; Warns not to make blunder

Gautam Gambhir (Source-Twitter)

The Indian team management has been logging its heads over which player to pick for the No.5 spot in the team for the Asia Cup and World Cup. KL Rahul has been playing in this spot for a while in the ODI format. However, the way Ishan Kishan performed against Pakistan has given headaches to his higher-ups. In fact, there are many who feel the left-hander, Kishan should continue to play at the No.5 spot for India.

The selection for the No. 5 spot sparked an argument on Star Sports between Gautam Gambhir and Mohammad Kaif. The former believes that by choosing Ishan over Rahul for the ODI team, India should avoid making a "blunder."

"India will make a huge blunder if they don't play Ishan Kishan ahead of KL Rahul," Gambhir said in a chat on Star Sports.

The two-time World Champion explained his point, suggesting the consistency Ishan has shown over the last few ODI innings, be it as an opener or in the middle-order, warrants him a place in the team.

"The point is, when you're gearing up to win the World Cup, you don't see the name, you judge by their form. You choose the player who can perform and win you the World Cup," Gambhir said.

"I feel Ishan Kishan has done everything he needs to do to be a frontrunner," he explained.

During the debate, the cricketer-turned-politician had even asked Kaif if he would be batting for Rahul's selection had someone like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma scored half-centuries in consecutive matches like Ishan.

"Just because he is Ishan Kishan and hasn't played a lot of international cricket, you're saying that KL Rahul should play before him," he said.

"But if Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma were in place of Ishan Kishan, would KL Rahul be able to replace them? The answer is 'no'," Gambhir asserted.

KL Rahul likely to play Super Four in Asia Cup 2023

Rahul is back in the Squad for Asia Cup 2023 and is expected to play for the team in the match against Pakistan in their Super 4 clash on Sunday, September 10. He was selected for the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 but later Rahul Dravid confirmed that he will not be available for the first two matches. Even for India's World Cup squad, Ishan and Rahul have been opted in as the two wicket-keeper batters.

Though there will be competition between them for the spot behind the stumps, both of them can also play in the playing XI if the team management decides to bench Shreyas Iyer.