Ishan Kishan may get a chance on Motera’s batting-friendly wicket
New Delhi. In view of Kona Bharat’s poor batting performance in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy and the pitch being considered relatively batting friendly at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, the Indian team management has selected Jharkhand wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan for the fourth and final Test match. Can make it to the playing XI. Bharat was being groomed as a backup to Rishabh Pant for the last one year and has been a regular member of the India A team.
However, he could only manage scores of 8, 6, 23 not out, 17 and 3 in five innings in the first three Tests against Australia. His wicketkeeping, however, was impressive on slow and turning wickets. It is a different matter that in Indore he got caught in some balls. But scoring only 57 runs in five innings has not been a profitable deal for the Indian team, that too when Indian batsmen are struggling to score runs on turning pitches.
Before the fourth and final Test match, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid came to his defense when he was asked about Bharat’s poor form with the bat. Dravid said, “We are not worried and it is again related to understanding the challenges and the circumstances. Although he has not made a huge contribution but scored 17 runs in the first innings of the last match. “He said,” Bharat had a useful contribution in Delhi where he batted positively. Along with this, you also need a little bit of luck in these kind of situations which might not have been with him. His game is improving and he has done very good wicketkeeping. So we need to see the batting performance in this perspective.
Dravid spent a lot of time with Kishan while practicing in the nets on Tuesday. The Indian team’s net session, however, did not clearly reflect the thinking of the team management and Bharat was rested in the optional practice session on Tuesday. However, he is likely to take part in the practice session on Wednesday. The Motera wicket looks batting friendly and even if it has bounce, it will suit Kishan’s aggressive style of batting and in such a situation the team management can give him a chance. Having two off-spinners in Australia’s team only goes against Kishan as he finds it difficult to play outside-turn balls. But this has happened in limited overs cricket where they have to be aggressive from the start.
