Ishan Kishan, right, comes out to bat as Sanju Samson walks off the field. (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: Ahead of the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand, former India wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has strongly urged the team management to back Ishan Kishan ahead of Sanju Samson as preparations for the T20 World Cup intensify.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Samson’s struggles continued in the ongoing series, with another modest comeback in the fourth T20I to add to a string of low scores. In contrast, Kishan impressed on his return to international cricket after almost two-and-a-half years, prompting Patel to call for a decisive move.
Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan? | Greenstone Lobo predicts the ideal player for the T20 World Cup
“If I was part of the Team India think tank, I would have played Ishan Kishan against Sanju Samson in the last match of the series,” Patel said on JioHotstar. “I would force Sanja to sit down and go with Ishan as the goal scorer.Patel stressed that if Kishan is considered to be India’s main wicket-taker for the T20 World Cup, he should be handed the responsibility immediately. “If I want Ishan as my main wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup, I would give him the gloves for the fifth T20I and also for the warm-up against South Africa,” he said.Patel emphasized the balance of the squad, adding that Tilak Varma’s expected return from injury could further complicate the selection process. “Tilak Varma is likely to be fit before the World Cup and reports suggest he will be. If he is fully fit, you have to keep a place for him. So if that decision comes, why wait? Now play Ishan Kishan against Sanju Samson in the final match.”
Vote
Should India prefer Ishan Kishan over Sanju Samson in the T20I final against New Zealand?
Kishan looked ominous and scored 112 runs in three matches after a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign where he led Jharkhand to their maiden title. Samson, meanwhile, managed just 40 runs in four innings, including 24 in the fourth T20I, which failed to save India’s 216-run chase.Despite Kishan’s form, he ended up on the bench for the fourth game, a decision that attracted scrutiny with the World Cup fast approaching. “Ishan is coming back after two years and has been batting well. He will have to keep wickets in the T20 World Cup as well, so why not start now?” Patel said.Having already sealed the five-match series 3-1, India will take on New Zealand in the series finale in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.
