Former India opener Gautam Gambhir mentioned there shouldn’t be any doubt about India’s openers in ODIs preserving the 2023 World Cup in thoughts. The former left-handed batter mentioned it ought to be captain Rohit Sharma and younger Ishan Kishan beginning India’s innings. Gambhir believes the quickest double hundred that Ishan Kishan hit within the third ODI towards Bangladesh has given him the sting over Shubman Gill and KL Rahul now that Shikhar Dhawan seems to be out of competition – the skilled left-hander was dropped from India’s ODI squad for the Sri Lanka dwelling sequence.

“I’m amazed we’re discussing this, because someone’s got a double-hundred in the previous innings. The discussion is over. It has to be Ishan Kishan. Someone who can get a double-hundred in those conditions against a reasonable attack – especially at [their] home – should play,” Gambhir advised Star Sports.

Kishan, who has been a backup opener in T20Is for greater than a yr now, grabbed the one alternative he obtained within the closing ODI towards Bangladesh, by slamming a double ton off solely 126 balls. Gambhir mentioned the controversy is now over and Kishan ought to be given a long term.

“He got that 200 by the 35th over mark? You can’t look at anyone beyond Ishan Kishan. He has to be given a longer run. He can also keep wickets as well, so he can do two jobs for you. So for me, that discussion shouldn’t be there. If someone else had got a double-hundred, I think we would’ve gone gung-ho over that individual, but it’s not the case with Ishan Kishan. Because we still continue to talk about other players. For me, that debate is over.”

The former KKR captain mentioned in a super India ODI XI, Rohit ought to open with Kishan, adopted by Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Hardik Pandya.

“It’s very difficult to look beyond Rohit and Ishan Kishan to open the batting, Virat at three, Surya at four, [and] Shreyas at five, because he’s been incredible in the last one-and-a-half years,” Gambhir mentioned of his ultimate India XI. “Yes, he’s had issues against the short ball, but he’s been able to manage it. You can’t be the best against everything but if you’re able to manage it and get the numbers going for you, you can’t look beyond Shreyas at No. 5 and Hardik [Pandya] at 6.”

Gambhir mentioned KL Rahul can be the backup opener and keeper in his workforce.