While the majority of Team India fans wanted the management to pick Ishan Kishan as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner in the ODIs, the captain on Monday revealed that Shubman Gill will be joining him at the top of the order in the upcoming ODIs against Sri Lanka.
Despite Ishan Kishan scoring the world’s fastest ODI double ton, off just 126 balls, last month against Bangladesh, India captain Rohit feels that Gill, who has done well for India in the past, deserves a longer run in the format.
“Both openers have done really well. But looking at how both openers have gone through, it’s fair that we give Gill a chance to have a good run,” Rohit said ahead of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
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“Gill has got a lot of runs in the last few games, so has Ishan. I am not going to take anything away from him (Ishan). He’s been wonderful for us, got a double hundred. And, I know what it takes to get a double hundred, it is a great achievement,” said Rohit.
“But just to be honest and fair to the guys who have done really well before, we need to give those guys enough chances as well before we make that call.”
Gill has only played 15 ODIs so far for India but has 687 runs to his name at an average of over 57 and a strike rate of 99. He has also scored one century and four fifties.
The decision to pick Gill over Kishan however has not gone down well with some experts and fans. Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad took to Twitter to express his displeasure with the decision. He wrote that the fair thing to do would have been to give Kishan a long run after he made the world-record double hundred.
“Think fair would have been to give chance to a man who scored a double hundred in India’s last ODI, and in a series where India lost two games and the series. Have all the time in the world for Gill, but no way you drop a player for scoring a double ton,” Prasad tweeted.
“And if one is convinced to play Gill , then can have him bat at 3 and let Ishan keep wickets instead of KL Rahul.”
“There is a reason we have underperformed in Limited overs cricket. Constant chopping changing and a guy who does brilliantly and is an X factor is dropped and mediocrity retained.”
“In Eng, Pant scored a hundred in the final ODI and helped India win the series. However, based on T20 form was dropped from ODI team. KL Rahul on the other hand, barring a couple of innings, has failed consistently but retains his place.Performance is not the foremost parameter. Sad”
Former India opener Aakash Chopra was left surprised by Team India’s decision but backed Gill and wrote that the opener deserves a “long run”.
There was more support for Ishan Kishan on Twitter as multiple users slammed India’s management team for ignoring the left-handed batter for Gill.
The India vs Sri Lanka ODI series begins on 10 January in Guwahati. The next two ODIs be played on 12 January (Kolkata) and 15 January (Thiruvananthapuram).
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