IPL 2023: Why Ishan Kishan did not open and come out to bat for Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 vs Gujarat Titan

IPL 2023: Ishan Kishan did not come out to open with Rohit Sharma during Mumbai Indians' (MI) 234-run chase against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2023 as he accidentally hurt his eyes after being hit by Chris Jordan's elbow at the end of 16th over.

Kishan was walking past Jordan, who was putting his cap after completing his 17-run over, when he suffered the injury to his left eye. Mumbai Indians rushed in the middle and soon took Kishan back with them.

The southpaw did not come to bat even after the fall of two Mumbai Indians wickets. To add to MI's woes, Cameron Green also walked off the field after getting hit on his left forearm by a short 146 km/h delivery from Hardik Pandya on the fifth ball of the second over.

"This might be a little bit worse than a bruise," reckoned Kevin Pietersen as Green walked back in pain with MI physios. Fortunately, the Australia came out bat again after fall of MI's third wicket in the form of Tilak Varma on the final delivery of the powerplay.

+ got Ishan Kishan pic.twitter.com/6m2I4dR9VH

— Duffer (@iThinkVeryHot) May 26, 2023

Kishan and Green were in top form for Mumbai Indians. Kishan is MI's second-highest run-scorer in the IPL 2023. He scored 454 runs at an average of 30.26 and a strike rate of 142.76. Green, the third-highest run-scorer for the team, has scored 426* runs at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 160.75.

Kerala wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod later replaced Kishan as concussion substitute. The 29-year-old also donned the gloves after Kishan left the field during GT's innings. However, he failed to impress and could score only five runs off seven balls.

Rohit reacts to Kishan's 'unexpected' injury

Rohit Sharma called Kishan's injury unexpected following Mumbai Indian's 62-run defeat. He said he wasn't actually aware of what happened with the 24-year-old.

"Kishan's concussion was unexpected. It was a last-minute change. I don't know what happened," Rohit Said.

Kishan part of WTC final

Kishan is part of India's 15-member WTC squad. He was named as replacement for KL Rahul who suffered a thigh injury during the IPL 2023. The nature and severity of Kishan's injury is unknown for now.

The batter has been backed by many including Ricky Ponting to bring an X-factor in the Indian Test team in the absence of injured Rishabh Pant.

“But there is another X factor that has just been added in Ishan Kishan. If you look at the way he plays, he is probably the most like Rishabh Pant with his potential to keep and bat in the middle order.

“If they do play those guys they should be given the right to play an aggressive brand of cricket.

“The best chance for India to achieve a result is by being a bit more adventurous in the way they play and Australia will try to do the same thing,” Ponting recently said at an ICC event.