The former Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh wants the Indian team to make a couple of changes in the playing XI for the all important game against New Zealand this Sunday.
After losing their first game against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Indian team now finds itself in a must win situation as they take on New Zealand in their second game in three days’ time.
Harbhajan Singh believes Ishan Kishan can give India the explosive start that they need
The reason why Harbhajan Singh wants Ishan Kishan at the top of the order for India is because New Zealand has got a left arm spinner and a leg spinner, both of whom would be favorable match ups for Ishan who is a left hander and hence, the ball will spin into him, rather than going away from him. While that doesn’t guarantee success, it’s still a favorable match up.
Also, KL Rahul is the kind of batsman who can not only open the batting, but can play in the middle order as well and he has done that in the past too. He has got a hundred at no. 4.
So, if Ishan Kishan opens the batting with Rohit Sharma, it won’t be a problem to shift KL Rahul to no. 4 because he has got the game to handle himself at that position.
“According to me, it is necessary that Ishan Kishan be in the playing XI. If he opens with Rohit Sharma, India can have the start which they are currently looking for,” Harbhajan said on his Youtube channel.
While there are a lot of people who want Ishan Kishan in the playing XI for the game against New Zealand, most of them want Ishan to replace Hardik Pandya because Pandya is not bowling at the moment.
But, Harbhajan Singh thinks even if Hardik Pandya is not bowling, his batting skills are good enough to keep him in the side as a finisher and if Ishan Kishan has to be brought in, he should be brought in for Suryakumar Yadav.
Another change that Harbhajan Singh wants in the Indian playing XI is for Shardul Thakur to replace Bhuvneshwar Kumar because of the fact that Shardul will add a bit of power and depth with the bat for India lower down the order, apart from his skills with the ball as the third seamer.
