Former attacking Indian opener Kris Srinkkanth wants the team to open the innings with Ishan Kishan in the forthcoming Asia Cup. Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma are expected to be India’s opening pair for the continental tournament.

However, on Tuesday, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that KL Rahul will miss the first two matches of the competition against Pakistan and Nepal due to a niggle he is carrying.

In Rahul’s absence, Kishan should be India’s first-choice wicket-keeper bat but the team also has the choice of playing Sanju Samson, who is a traveling reserve with the side.

As Kishan is known to bat up the order in the white-ball formats, there are question marks over his place in the final XI. The southpaw has scored 694 runs in 17 ODI matches at an average of 46.27 and a strike rate of 107.43, including a double century.

“If Ishan Kishan has to be in the XI. He has to open the batting,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel on Tuesday.

Srikanth wants India to back a left-right batting combination at the top of the order and has urged the team management to give an attacking license to Ishan Kishan against Pakistan.

“You are playing against Pakistan. They have some terrific fast bowlers. You have to take your chances. You have give Ishan the license to go out and take the attack to the Pakistan bowlers,” Srikkanth said while discussing the Indian team.

“That’s why I am saying (for left-right combination), take a bold call and send Ishan Kishan to open the batting. Ask him to attack,” Srikkanth concluded on Kishan.

Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi has troubled India’s right-handers with the in-swingers and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to open the innings with Kishan.

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on September 2.