Former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad is quite unhappy with the Indian team management for dropping Ishan Kishan from the playing XI for the opening game of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Kishan scored a double century in India’s last 50-over game against Bangladesh and was considered by many to be an ideal opening partner for skipper Rohit Sharma.
However, on the eve of the first match in Guwahati, Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shubman Gill will open the batting with him. The India captain said that he is not taking anything away from the southpaw and will keep him in the mix.
Rohit Sharma said, ‘I think it is right that we give Gill a chance to perform well because in the previous matches Gill also scored a lot of runs. I will not take anything from Ishaan. He has been amazing to us. He scored a double hundred and I know what it takes to score a double hundred, it is a big achievement. But to be honest and fair to the people who have done really well in the past, we need to give enough chances to those people as well.”
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He further said, “It is unfortunate that we will not be able to play Ishaan, but considering how things have been for us in the last 8-9 months, considering how ODIs have been for us, it is fair.” Gill And he has done very well in that position. We will definitely try and keep Ishaan in the mix and see how things pan out for us as we play a lot of games ahead.”
It was a call that didn’t sit well with Venkatesh Prasad, who took to Twitter to vent his frustration on the team management. The former fast bowler said that it would have been appropriate to give a chance to the player who scored a double century in his last match.
In England, Pant scored a century in the final ODI and helped India win the series. Although he was dropped from the ODI team on the basis of T20 form. KL Rahul, on the other hand, has failed consistently barring a few innings but has retained his place. Performance is not the most important parameter. Sad
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) January 9, 2023
Venkatesh Prasad said that if he wanted to give Gill a chance, he could have come at No.3 and Kishan could have continued in the team as wicketkeeper in place of KL Rahul. The former fast bowler said that the reason for the poor performance of the Indian team in the limited-overs game is due to constant changes and changes. Prasad said that performance is not the main parameter for the Indian team at the moment.
And if someone is willing to play Gill, then make him bat at 3 and let Ishan take wickets instead of KL Rahul.
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) January 9, 2023
In his tweet, Venkatesh Prasad wrote: “Think it would have been fair if the man who scored a double century in India’s last ODI had been given a chance, and in a series where India would have lost two games and the series. There is all the time in the world for Gill, but you don’t leave a player to score a double hundred. And if anyone is willing to play Gill, he should bat at 3 and let Ishan take wickets instead of KL Rahul.
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He further wrote: “There is a reason why we have done poorly in limited overs cricket. Constant changes and a guy who does brilliantly and is an X factor is removed and mediocrity is retained. In England, Pant scored a century in the final ODI and helped India win the series. However, was dropped from the ODI squad on the basis of T20 form. KL Rahul, on the other hand, has failed consistently except for a couple of innings. But retaining their place. Performance is not the most important parameter. Sad”
