Asia Cup 2023: Ishan Kishan has given huge headache to selectors with knock vs Pakistan, says Robin Uthappa

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan played a fantastic knock against Pakistan on Saturday, 2 September. Coming into bat after India lost 4 quick wickets, Ishan stabilised the innings adding 138 runs with Hardik Pandya to guide India to a safe score of 266 runs in the first innings of the game.

Asia Cup 2023, IND vs PAK: Match Report

Kishan hit 82 runs off 81 balls in a display of aggressive batting where he hit 9 boundaries and 2 sixes in tricky conditions at Pallekele after Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat in tough conditions.

Former India cricketers Robin Uthappa and Wasim Jaffer discussed the player’s ability while speaking on ESPNcricinfo. Both lauded the player’s innings and said that he would be giving the selectors a headache ahead of the ODI World Cup squad selection.

“Ishan Kishan’s timing from the get go was spot on. He came in four wickets down and even in the balls that he defended, he looked in very good position. He took on the spinners – not his strongest forte – but he played the spinners really well,” Wasim Jaffer said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo.

“It is nice to see him batting well in the position that he is not used to and it is a good headache for the selectors when KL Rahul gets fit,” he further added.

Kishan batted in the middle-order, a position that is felt to be unsuitable for him due to his pace-hitting capabilities. Ishan’s three consecutive half-centuries in West Indies also came when he opened the innings for India. The batter showed incredible maturity and played a risk-free innings to guide India to a respectable score.

Speaking about Kishan’s strengths, Uthappa said that the left hander had the ability to throw the kitchen sink but could also play with incredible maturity.

“The biggest plus point that Ishan Kishan has is that he plays good cricketing shots, when he looks to hold shape, he plays exceptionally well. One of his other strengths is to throw the kitchen sink at it. He has got a lot of power,” Uthappa said on ESPNcricinfo.

“He goes out and plays good shots and when the innings progresses he hits those big shots and that’s what he did today as well. He likes to take on the spinners, and that is what he did today. If he continues to do that he will create huge headache in the selectors minds once KL Rahul is fit,” Uthappa concluded.