Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt reckons Ishan Kishan deserves a long rope in the Indian team and the selectors as well as the team management shouldn’t overlook it. Kishan was able to prove his mettle in the third ODI against Bangladesh at Chhatogram on Saturday as he scored a magnum opus knock of 210 runs off just 131 balls as he tore Bangladesh’s bowlers apart.
Kishan was able to get his chance only because Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the third game due to a thumb injury, which he sustained in the second game while fielding. However, Kishan was able to grab his chance with both hands as he scored his maiden ODI century and also converted it into a big score.
Kishan made new records as he became the youngest to score a double ODI century. Furthermore, the southpaw also scored the fastest double century in the 50-overs format off just 124 balls.
Salman Butt said on his YouTube Channel, “There are some rare cases like that of Virat Kohli where you tend to back the player despite poor form due to the pressure they put on the opposition with their mere presence.
“However, the other players around them should be selected based on current form and that’s why Ishan Kishan deserves a long rope. It’s a fantastic performance and you shouldn’t overlook it.”
Meanwhile, Butt added Ishan Kishan played an ultra-aggressive brand of cricket which India always wanted to show in the limited-overs format.
“Ishan Kishan played with the exact aggression and killer instinct that India have been wanting to show in their ultra-attacking approach. Their openers were very conservative in the last two World Cups and that puts pressure on the remaining batting line-up. They have such a huge pool of players but they also need to get it right in terms of which player to fit where.”
Ishan Kishan played a masterpiece knock and deserves his chances in playing XI in the upcoming matches. Kishan would want to carry the same form for India and be consistent.
India will now take on Bangladesh in the first Test match, which will be played at Chhatogram from December 14.
