India captain Rohit Sharma on Tuesday confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan will return to the playing XI in the three-match One-Day International series against New Zealand. The 24-year-old had been excluded from the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka despite scoring a record double hundred against Bangladesh.
Shubman Gill, who was chosen ahead of Ishan to open alongside Rohit in the Sri Lanka series, made the most of the opportunity with scores of 70, 21, and 116. However, with Shreyas Iyer ruled out of the series due to a back injury and KL Rahul unavailable, Ishan will return to the team and don the wicket-keeping gloves, albeit in a different batting position.
“Ishan will be batting middle-order, I’m glad that he can get a run here after a fine knock against Bangladesh,” the captain said in the pre-match press conference.
🗣️🗣️’Siraj is an important player for India’
Hear what #TeamIndia captain @ImRo45 has to say on local lad @mdsirajofficial ahead of the first #INDvNZ ODI in Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/XoSSOplZ20
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2023
The hosts, fresh from their 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka, will hope to take on a confident Kiwi side, as they prepare for this year’s 50-over World Cup at home. Tom Latham and Co are coming off a 2-1 series win…
