'He won’t be in the playing XI consistently': R Ashwin's honest prediction for India star

The Indian cricket team finally got off the mark in the five-match T20I series against West Indies and defeated the hosts in the third match by seven wickets played at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Suryakumar Yadav batted as per his reputation and was the hero of Team India's victory. The number one T20I batter played an innings of 83 runs off 44 balls, including ten fours and four sixes. But the absence of a young star caught the eyeballs of several fans. 

3 things you need to know 

• Team India needed 160 runs to win the third T20I match against West Indies 
• Team India lost by two wickets and four runs respectively in the first two T20I matches 
• West Indies lead the five-match match T20I series against India by 2-1 

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R Ashwin finds similarities between him and Ishan Kishan 

(Ishan Kishan pumps the air in delight after scoring a double century against Bangladesh in the third ODI / Image: AP) 

Veteran Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin while speaking on his YouTube channel revealed the similarities between him and Indian youngster Ishan Kishan. Ashwin believes that Kishan didn't get enough opportunities to play for the team even after scoring a double hundred in ODIs. The number one Test bowler further recalled the early phase of his career when he used to serve drinks to the players and was benched for many matches. Ashwin said: 

Ishan Kishan has been on the bench for so many years now. He scored a double hundred against Bangladesh in ODIs, he has performed well whenever he has gotten an opportunity. He will be in the squad, but he won’t be in the playing XI consistently. 

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R Ashwin added 

In my formative years in 2009 when I joined the squad, I used to be a waterboy in the initial years. I didn’t get many chances in the playing XI, but I had been in the squad. Those years are really important for learning as a player. 

Ishan Kishan has not been able to fire with the bat in the first two IND vs WI T20Is so far as he did in the second Test and three-match ODI series. Kishan was dropped from the IND vs WI 3rd T20 and Yashasvi Jaiswal was brought in his place. Kishan scored three back-to-back-half centuries in India vs West Indies ODI series, however, he could replicate his performance in the T20I series.