Ishan Kishan will play ahead of KL Rahul in India's first match of Asia Cup 2023: Sanjay Bangar

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Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has predicted that Ishan Kishan will play ahead of KL Rahul in India's first match of the World Cup 2023 against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.

Bangar has reckoned that ignoring Ishan Kishan would be hard due to his current form. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter scored classy 82 off 82 in the first match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023. It was the southpaw's fourth consecutive fifty in the format.

On the other hand, KL Rahul has joined the team after missing the first two matches due to a niggle injury. He has joined the Indian team after passing the fitness Test at the NCA ahead of India's September 10 match against Pakistan in the Super Fours.

“There is a good chance he will play the first World Cup game as well, because it's impossible to keep him out after the kind of innings that he played. He has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and KL Rahul coming back from an injury is always going to be a little risky,” Sanjay Bangar told Star Sports.

Further, Sanjay Bangar also disagreed with the idea of playing an additional all-rounder on the cost of a specialist like Mohammed Shami. India dropped Shami against Pakistan to include Shardul Thakur and increase their batting depth. He said Indian batting has already got depth when Ravindra Jadeja is batting at number seven.

“I have always believed that you have got to have quality players who come in when their primary skill is going to be exceptional. I don't think India should be looking out for an all-rounder. If Jadeja is going to be batting at No. 7, I think that's enough batting depth.

“Let's not sacrifice the quality of bowling because then you are leaving a Shami out and getting a Shardul Thakur in. I wouldn't go in that way but there is a chance that India might actually have somebody like a Shardul Thakur just to have a little more batting depth,” Sanjay Bangar said.