Former India batter Sanjay Bangar has said that India have enough batting depth when all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja comes in to bat at the number seven spot. India is set to face Pakistan in the Super-4 stage of the 2023 Asia Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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Speaking to Star Sports, Bangar said wicket-keeping batter Ishan Kishan grabbed his opportunity against Pakistan and is now the favorite to start over KL Rahul in the middle order. Kishan scored 82 runs off 82 balls, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes.
“There is a good chance he will play the first World Cup game as well, because it’s impossible to keep him out after the kind of innings that he played. He has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and KL Rahul coming back from an injury is always going to be a little risky,” said Bangar.
Bangar said India will have enough batting depth if Jadeja bats at number seven, insisting that there is no need to play another all-rounder. India has four picked all-rounders in the 15-member World Cup squad in the form of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur.
“I have always believed that you have got to have quality players who come in when their primary skill is going to be exceptional. I don’t India should be looking out for an all-rounder. If Jadeja is going to be batting at No. 7, I think that’s enough batting depth,” Bangar added.
Bangar stressed that India should not sacrifice quality bowling to get more batting depth. India played Thakur instead of Mohammed Shami in their group-stage match against Pakistan.
“Let’s not sacrifice the quality of bowling because then you are leaving a Shami out and getting a Shardul Thakur in. I wouldn’t go in that way but there is a chance that India might actually have somebody like a Shardul Thakur just to have a little more batting depth,” said Bangar.
Pakistan will come into the game with two full matches under their belt – both of which they have won comprehensively. India, on the other hand, have batted in one and a half matches and bowled in just one game. The two sides are all set to lock horns in Colombo on September 10.
