India vs Afghanistan: Injuries to Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya open door for Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy
Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul (BCCI Photo) Tech Word News. com in Dharamsala: Injuries to Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya have left coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill with several questions to answer as India’s ODI World Cup 2027 journey begins on Saturday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala when they take on Afghanistan in the first ODI of the three-match series.Who will bat at 3?If bowling coach Morne Morkel is to be believed, the management is trying to rotate two or three batsmen in Virat Kohli’s No.3 role. “As for the No.3 slot, that is something we will explore during this series. Whether it is Ishan (Kishan), KL (Rahul) or Yashasvi (Jaiswal), it is a nice opportunity,” he told reporters.“We’ve got a few one-day games coming up and we’ll give the boys opportunities in different positions to get a better idea of how we want to structure the team and what options we have.”Filling Virat’s shoes on the trio will be a big challenge for all three. Ishan Kishan was selected as a midfielder and wicketkeeper in the team before Kohli’s injury. The Tech Word News. com can confirm that the team’s management has long desired a top-three finish. Now with Virat’s injury, they will have a chance to pick either Ishan or Jaiswal. However, Ishan Kishan looked set to don the gloves as he had an extended session with fielding coach T Dilip after batting. Which means Jaiswal will have to wait.Meanwhile, KL Rahul, who has kept wickets in ODIs for the last three years and made his No.6, will be India’s most experienced batsman in the middle order. He will ask the management of Rahul to bat at 3 in Kohli’s absence, in which case the Indian middle order will look fragile.
NKR is set to replace Hardik
Hardik Pandya’s absence has accelerated India’s search for alternatives ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup and bowling coach Morne Morkel believes Nitish Kumar Reddy has earned his chance.“You always look at your options, whether it’s batting, bowling or all-rounders,” Morkel said.“Unfortunately, Hardik is missing this series after having a bit of fun just before joining the camp. But then again, it’s another opportunity for Nitish Kumar Reddy.”“He’s bowled beautifully the last couple of years and he’s done a lot of work on his game. Like new bowlers coming into the squad, it’s an opportunity for players in that role to put their hands up and maybe make life difficult for the selectors.”Nitish Kumar Reddy is by no means a finished product. He certainly worked on his bowling with Steffan Jones, but is it Hardik Pandya? The simple answer to this question is: no.However, bowler Morne Morkel praised the young all-rounder and hinted that he will play on Saturday.“I always encourage players to work on their games and identify areas where they can improve,” Morkel said.“Nitish did that. From a technical point of view, it was about getting him in a better position, creating more balance so that the energy flows through the wicket. We believe there has been an improvement in both departments of his game.”“We’re excited for him to get the opportunity and see how he puts it together on the international stage,” Morkel added.
Gurnoor and Prince to get a chance
With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj rested for the series, it opened the door for the next generation of fast bowlers in India, with bowling coach Morne Morkel seeing the Afghanistan series as an important step in building depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.“That’s definitely part of our thinking and our vision: to give ourselves options for the World Cup in South Africa,” Morkel said.While acknowledging that “we know what Bumrah can do with the new ball”, he stressed the importance of exposing young bowlers to high-pressure international cricket.Morkel was particularly encouraged by his early impressions of Prince and Gurnoor, with whom he worked tirelessly during the one-off Test against Afghanistan.“It almost felt like they’d been part of the team for five years,” he said, praising the pair’s poise and work ethic. “They were accurate and value for money,” he added.
Who do you think should be at No.3 in Virat Kohli’s absence?