Saba Karim. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim reckoned that the selectors for the upcoming Asia Cup and subsequent ICC Cricket World Cup should take KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer into consideration. Both batters are currently recuperating at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and have shown significant progress so far.
Karim stated that Ishan Kishan can be the potential replacement for KL Rahul if the latter is not fit for the upcoming mega-events. The former cricketer opined that Kishan will be able to open the innings and also come in at the middle order.
“The selectors should take KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer into consideration — they can be included in the team if they are fit. But the wait has not ended, the team will be announced on the 20th from what I know, they have the time until then.
“But if they are not fit, Ishan Kishan is a good option against Rahul since he can bat as an opener and in the middle-order,” Karim was quoted as saying by India Today.
Kishan had a stellar run in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against the West Indies which India won 2-1. The 25-year-old amassed half-centuries in all three ODIs and finished as India’s top-scorer with a total of 184 runs. Before the ODI series, he had made his Test debut in the two-match series against the West Indies.
The 55-year-old went on to say that if Shreyas will not get fit on time, there are multiple options for his replacement. Suryakumar Yadav will be the right pick since he has experience playing ODI games at both domestic and international levels, according to Karim.
“If Shreyas Iyer is not fit, you have 2-3 options to pick from, in Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Suryakumar Yadav. But for me, Suryakumar has gained experience of playing one-day cricket both domestically and internationally. I will still back Suryakumar Yadav,” he added.