Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu has urged India to play Ishan Kishan in the third ODI against New Zealand. Rayudu wants a left-hander in the mix and opined that Kishan can bat at number four whereas Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul can bat at number five and six, respectively.
In the first two games, Axar Patel has been promoted to number five but the left-hander hasn’t been able to grab his chance with the bat. Patel was dismissed for a duck in the series opener and managed 7 off 17 balls in the second ODI on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kishan has been in terrific form in the white-ball formats but hasn’t received a lot of chances in the 50-over version.
“There should be a left-hander in the mix, and I want Ishan Kishan to come at No.4, and Shreyas Iyer comes in at No.5 and KL at No.6, and then Axar at No.7. That is only because it brings a left-hander there and someone who is really good against spin and pace. So, I just think that he will add a lot more value even going into the World Cup,” Rayudu said on Cricbuzz.
“I just think that it adds far more balance when the conditions are tough, and it also gives you freedom as a batting unit to sometimes have a counter-attack strategy when the bowlers are bowling really well, somebody can take them on as well. So I think it might be an option going forward,” Rayudu added.
On the other hand, the former CSK batter said Tilak Varma can also be an option to bat at number four in the future.
“Don’t forget, there is the option of Tilak Varma as well, who bowls a bit of off-spin, I’m saying for the future, that there is always the option of a left-hander coming in at No.4, and that will add a lot more value, and I just think that a left-hander being in the mix is very important,” Ambati Rayudu said.
The third ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Tuesday.
