India vs Australia: Prefer KS Bharat over Ishan Kishan for Test collection, says Aakash Chopra

Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that each Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat are in rivalry for a spot within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2023.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 28, 2023 23:36 IST

IND vs AUS: Prefer KS Bharat over Ishan Kishan for Test collection, says Aakash Chopra (PTI/AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Former India opener Aakash Chopra has said that he would favor KS Bharat over Ishan Kishan because the wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming four-match house Test collection towards Australia. Chopra additionally said that Bharat can bat and deal with the bowling of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja as a wicketkeeper on Indian pitches.

Bharat and Ishan are the wicketkeeping choices in India’s Rohit Sharma-led aspect for the Tests towards Australia, which start on February 9 in Nagpur, as first-choice wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is on the street to restoration after surviving a horrific automotive accident on December 30.

“It is really unfortunate that Rishabh Pant isn’t available for us at the moment. He is the kind of player who can play in all formats and is an excellent one too. What I feel is that we will see various players across the different formats. I would say KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan, both are in contention for Test cricket.”

Bharat, who has continuously performed for India A and averages 47.95 in first-class video games, had lengthy served as Pant’s backup within the Test squad. When Wriddhiman Saha was unable to take the gloves due to a stiff neck throughout India’s first Test match towards New Zealand in Kanpur in November 2022, he additionally dazzled together with his preserving skills.

Ishan, who has performed within the white-ball groups for a while and is seen as extra of a like-for-like substitute for Pant and averages 38.76 in first-class cricket, has obtained his first call-up to the Test squad.

“If you need a better keeper then KS Bharat but if you need an explosive left-hand batter because we don’t have a lefty in the top order, then I would say we can say, Ishan Kishan. Personally, my preference will be KS Bharat because he can keep the scoreboard ticking in Tests and we need someone who is going to be able to handle Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja’s bowling behind the wicket,” Aakash Chopra stated on JioCinema’s sports activities present ‘Aakashvani’.

“In T20s, It’s going to be a toss-up between Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson and ODIs will obviously feature KL Rahul behind the wicket, there is no question about it,” Chopra stated when he was requested about his selection of keepers for India in white-ball cricket.

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Jan 28, 2023