Gautam Gambhir lays down his Indian batting order for the 2023 World Cup

Former Indian batter, Gautam Gambhir advocated heavily for Ishan Kishan for the opening slot in the longer format of the white ball game as the debate for India’s opening slot heats up. The world cup winning opener made it clear that after Ishan Kishan’s blitz against Bangladesh, if there was one batter who could create a significant impact for the upcoming World Cup in 2023, it was Kishan.

Talking to ESPNCricinfo, Gautam Gambhir explicated in detail about what should be India’s roadmap when it comes to the batting department, especially given the fact that the World Cup 2023 will need India’s finest to avert another downfall, a spectacle that has been rife for a while.

Gambhir said, “I'm amazed we're discussing this, because someone's got a double-hundred in the previous innings. The discussion is over. It has to be Ishan Kishan. Someone who can get a double-hundred in those conditions against a reasonable attack - especially at [their] home - should play.”

He further added, “He got, what, 200 by the 35th over mark? You can't look at anyone beyond Ishan Kishan. He has to be given a longer run. He can also keep wickets as well, so he can do two jobs for you. So for me, that discussion shouldn't be there. If someone else had got a double-hundred, I think we would've gone gung-ho over that individual, but it's not the case with Ishan Kishan. Because we still continue to talk about other players. For me, that debate is over."

Gambhir also laid down the batting order for India in the showpiece event, stating, “It's very difficult to look beyond Rohit and Ishan Kishan to open the batting, Virat at three, Surya at four, [and] Shreyas at five, because he's been incredible in the last one-and-a-half years," Gambhir said of his ideal India XI. 

"Yes, he's(Shreyas Iyer) had issues against the short ball, but he's been able to manage it. You can't be the best against everything but if you're able to manage it and get the numbers going for you, you can't look beyond Shreyas at No. 5 and Hardik [Pandya] at 6,” he added.