India’s star batter KL Rahul has been going through a tough time with the bat as he has been struggling to score runs. The star batter had a forgettable year and his form has become a matter of grave concern for team India, with the ODI World Cup 2023 just around the corner. KL Rahul’s place in the Indian team seems to have come under scrutiny and he has been under immense pressure with Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan in great form
With Rohit Sharma certain to start in the XI, there is a question mark over his opening partner. KL Rahul alongside Rohit Sharma has been team India’s mainstay opener for a while now. While Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan are the two obvious choices for the spot, on the other hand, Ishan Kishan has also made his case stronger by smashing a magnificent double century.
Brett Lee Named KL Rahul’s Replacement
Meanwhile, former Australia pacer Brett Lee reckoned that Ishan Kishan should be India’s first-choice opener when the World Cup comes around in 10 months’ time. Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Brett Lee said: “With this deadly double, Ishan has staked a strong claim to open for India in the ODI World Cup at home in 2023. Will this happen? I don’t know. Should it happen? Hell yeah it should. The guy just scored the fastest 200 in ODI history. But if he can show consistency, stay fit, and be around the next few months, he should be a sure-shot opener for India at the World Cup,”
He added: “Back Ishan to make it in the World Cup squad with an eye on the future and clearly, he would be on a high after that knock as he should be. However, a word of caution. Too much praise had led to cobwebs in the head. So my advice to Ishan Kishan would be… forget about the milestone, forget about the double hundred as soon as you can. There are bigger milestones to achieve, higher peaks to scale. Ishan Kishan has to forget about the euphoria of his double hundred. Just focus on the process stay fit and keep smashing big runs.”
Brett Lee Hailed Ishan Kishan’s Double Century Knock
Furthermore, Brett Lee also hailed Ishan Kishan for smashing a stunning double century. Ishan registered a historic double ton by getting there off just 126 balls and thus overtaking Chris Gayle in the process. Ishan also joined an elite list of players featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rohit as only the fourth batter ever to notch up an ODI double.
Brett Lee was left in awe of the young talent. Hailing his performance, Lee said: “I am a little late in reacting to this but as they say… better late than never. What we saw just a few days ago from Ishan Kishan was truly amazing. Bangladesh had no answer. The fastest double-hundred in ODI history, that’s right. 210 runs off just 132 balls… 24 fours and 10 massive sixes. A ferocious knock with shots all around the dial. Unbelievable batting, he could have easily got a triple hundred as well. It helped that he had the master Virat Kohli at the other end. what I loved about the innings was not just Ishan Kishan’s shot-making but Kohli’s reaction when Ishan ran the 200th run. What a great spirit and camaraderie between the two,”
