'Why go somewhere else?': Ex India coach names Rishabh Pant's replacement for World Cup

The Indian cricket team management has been searching for a replacement for injured wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who underwent a deadly car accident at the end of year 2022. Pant is likely to be out of international cricket for the rest of this year and is might miss the ODI World Cup 2023. The left-handed wicketkeeper batsman is going through his rehabilitation period at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. 

3 things you need to know 

• The Indian cricket team will begin its ODI World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia on October 8, 2023 
• Rishabh Pant missed WTC 2023 Final against Australia due to his injury 
• Rishabh Pant last played an international match against Bangladesh in December 2022 

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Ravi Shastri names Ishan Kishan as Rishabh Pant's replacement for CWC 2023 

(Ishan Kishan celebrates after hitting a double hundred against Bangladesh in December 2022 / Image: AP) 

Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri during a discussion on Star Sports' Selection Day show said that there should be three left-handed batsmen in Team India's top seven of the ODI World Cup 2023. Shastri further said that Ishan Kishan has been a part of the Indian team for the past 15 months and there is no need to look for someone else.

Ravi Shastri further added and said:

Including Jaddu (Jadeja), there should be three left-handers in the top seven. Ishan Kishan has been keeping for the last 15 months.  Why go somewhere else?  If you have persisted with Ishan Kishan for the last six to eight months, and he's going to keep wickets, he comes in, in any case. But, get two left-handers. 

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Ishan Kishan made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo in the year 2021, and since then has been consistent with his performance in the 50-over format. Ishan slammed a double hundred in Chattogram against Bangladesh at the end of 2022 and hit three back-to-back half-centuries against West Indies in the recently concluded ODI series. 

Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant were part of the same Indian squad, which reached the final of the 2016 edition of the U19 World Cup. Pant received an early India call-up and since then has been a regular member of the side, whereas, on the other hand, Kishan's performance in domestic cricket and IPL earned him a place in the national team.