CricketNews

“Virat Kohli sacrifices his No. 3 for a No. 4,” Sanjay Manjrekar reveals his Indian team combination for ODIs against New Zealand

First ODI between India and New Zealand will be played on 18th January.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has revealed his team combination for the ODI series against New Zealand. He wants Ishan Kishan to be part of the playing XI and said that Virat Kohli should sacrifice his position to adjust the keeper batter.

“Virat Kohli sacrifices his No. 3 for a No. 4,” Sanjay Manjrekar on Indian combination for New Zealand series

India and New Zealand are all set to lock horns with each other in the white-ball series. The ODI series between the teams will kick start from 18th January in Hyderabad whereas the second and third games will be played on the 21st and 24th January in Raipur and Indore respectively.

It’s fair to say that there’ll be a lot of selection headaches for India going into the match. There has been lots of talk about the Rohit Sharma-led side benching Ishan Kishan after his double century. Shubman Gill was preferred over him as management confirmed that they will give the right-hander a fair run to him for his performances.

Advertisement

Advertisement

But with KL Rahul not being available for the series, it’s fair to say that both Gill and Kishan would be in the mix. But the question still stands who bat where? The right-hander did a terrific job in the series against Sri Lanka as he smashed a century in the last game.

With the fuss about team combination, Manjrekar has suggested that Shubman Gill should bat at No.3 with Virat Kohli at No.4 as this will give Ishan Kishan a chance to open. Speaking on Star Sports, he said:

“It’s going to be still tricky. One guy is going to be really upset. I have got an idea to sort this mess out. Have Shubman Gill bat at No. 3, he seems like he can handle that position, and then Virat Kohli sacrifices his No. 3 for a No. 4

Advertisement

“He has done that before to Ambati Rayudu once, many years back against Sri Lanka. So that could be a way to sort it out. Ishan Kishan after his double hundred, left and right-handed combination at the top is not such a bad idea.”

“You have got to make use of Ishan Kishan’s current form,” says Sanjay Manjrekar

Manjrekar further said that the team should make full use of Ishan Kishan’s form as he can take away the game and his aggressive game will help Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. He said:

“You have got to make use of Ishan Kishan’s current form and the kind of explosion that he provides. Always helpful for guys like Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli coming in next if you got somebody coming in and getting 50 off 30 balls.”

Advertisement

Related Articles

Back to top button