IND vs AUS: Why Ishan Kishan should play in place of KS Bharat

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Three matches, five innings and 57 runs at an average of 14.25 so far in the ongoing India versus Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy for KS Bharat. The Andhra wicketkeeper-batter travelled for a long time with the Indian Test team and his wait for debut was even longer.

Replacing a big match-winner like Rishabh Pant, who has redefined batting in Test cricket in his own style, was almost impossible for any wicketkeeper-batter in the country until the fatal car accident in December ruled him out of action for an unforeseeable future.

Ahead of the crucial 4-match home Test series against Australia, the BCCI named an Indian squad with two wicketkeeper-batters. There was no surprise there. Bharat was bound to be named. Alongside him was named Ishan Kishan - the more ideal like-to-like replacement for Pant. However, it was certain that Bharat would get a go first. The reason behind it was obvious - the lad had waited for long in the shadow of Pant. Also, his efficiency behind the stumps has been called the best in the country after out-of-favour Wriddhiman Saha by many.

He has stood up to expectation with his glovework on rank turners but his bat has failed to make the right noise. With Pant gone for a year or two, the third Test in Indore threw him an opportunity to make it his own for a longer duration but scores of 17 and 3 with Indian innings at a time when India was crumbling did not help his cause. Has it also opened the door for Ishan Kishan to make his Test debut?

IND vs AUS: Has Bharat's failure with bat opened doors for Kishan

India need to win the fourth Test in Ahmedabad to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Right after India's nine-wicket defeat in Indore, Pant was seen trending on Twitter. Fans missed his whirlwind knocks in crunch situations which would take the game away from oppositions within a session of play. In the fourth Test against England in 2021, India were in a similar situation. They needed to win the match to qualify for the inaugural WTC final. On a rank turner, England were bowled out for 205 and India were reduced to 146/6 in reply. Pant smashed 101 off 118 and led India to an innings and 25-run win.

IND vs AUS: Why Ishan Kishan should play in place of KS Bharat

Kishan has been playing first-class cricket since 2014 and has enough experience of playing on rank turners. In the 48 first-class matches he has played till date, the southpaw has scored 2985 runs at an average of 38.76 and a healthy strike-rate of 68.90. The Ahmedabad pitch is expected to be more batting-friendly than Nagpur, Delhi and Indore where the two teams played on dust bowls. The Motera track has a firm look to it and the even bounce which would suit Kishan's attacking style of play.

India are most likely going to play the final of WTC at the Oval in London. India will have a strong chance of qualifying even if they lose as Sri Lanka - the only other contender for the spot - need to win 2-0 in New Zealand to set up a clash against Australia. Bharat's style of play on seaming England wickets would put him in a vulnerable spot. Considering that factor, the time is just perfect to try Kishan whose counter-attacking style of play can give a major boost in any condition. Post the fourth Test, India have no Test assignment until the WTC final (if they qualify).

Bharat would most likely be picked in the WTC squad as well. Head coach Rahul Dravid has backed and defended the right-hander.

"It again comes to a question of perspective and understanding of some of the challenges and conditions that he has kept in and even though it's not a big contribution but he got 17 in the first innings.

"Got a nice contribution in Delhi where he played positively, and you need a little bit of luck in these conditions and he hasn't probably had that, and he is shaping really well and keeping really nicely for us. So we need to put batting performance in perspective," he said on Tuesday.

The management anyway are bound to go with these two wicket-keepers for the WTC. It would only be fair to give Kishan one out of the available four chances in the series.