Ravi Shastri picks India’s wicket-keeper ahead of Asia Cup 2023
Ravi Shastri (Source: Twitter)
Former Indian cricket team head coach, Ravi Shastri recently opined about the ideal player for the position of India’s wicketkeeper in the continental tournament, Asia Cup 2023, which is to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from 30 August.
The Indian cricket team is yet to announce their squad for the Intercontinental tournament. Marked by multiple injuries, the Indian team is struggling to find the players for their middle order, which also includes multiple candidates in line to be selected for the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup 2023.
Ravi Shastri backed Ishan Kishan over KL Rahul and Sanju Samson in India’s middle order as a wicket-keeping batsman. Shastri believes Kishan has been constantly a part of the Indian cricket team for the last 15 months, and deserves a chance to play in the continental tournament.
Ravi Shastri on KL Rahul as wicket-keeper for India in Asia Cup
Shastri believes since Rahul hasn’t played any match for the Indian team for quite a few months now and is still recovering from an injury, it will be difficult for him to play a whole series of matches especially while batting and keeping the wickets. He talked about how it will be difficult for Rahul to be back after a long time and contribute in both innings with constant movement.
“See when you’re talking of a player (KL Rahul) who’s not played and is recovering from injury. To think of him in the XI of the Asia Cup is asking a little too much of the player himself. And then you’re talking about keeping. When a guy comes from an injury, the range of movement and things of that sort, so that’s a no-no,”
“If you have persisted with Ishan Kishan for the last six to eight months and he’s going to keep wickets, he comes in, in any case. Ishan Kishan has been keeping it for the last 15 months. Why go somewhere else?”
