India's Ex-Coach Shocks Everyone, Drops KL Rahul From WC Opener vs Australia
Bangar picked Ishan Kishan over KL Rahul [X.com]
Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar unveiled his starting lineup for India's opening match against Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023, and to everyone's surprise, he chose Ishan Kishan over the renowned wicket-keeper KL Rahul.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled its 15-member squad for the upcoming marquee event. Notably, senior batter KL Rahul, who was sidelined from the first two Asia Cup 2023 matches against Nepal and Pakistan due to niggle, has successfully cleared the fitness test and secured his place in the World Cup squad.
During a conversation with Star Sports, the former India batting coach, Sanjay Bangar was asked to pick his Indian XI for the Australia match, to which he replied:
"The wicket will matter a lot. We all know that the Chennai wicket turns a little and the ball gets stuck on the pitch. So you won't need four fast bowling options there."
Sanjay Bangar also preferred Axar Patel over Shardul Thakur in his playing XI and he justified this decision by emphasizing the spin-friendly nature of the Chennai wicket, suggesting that three seamers, featuring Hardik Pandya alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, would suffice.
"I will go in the reverse order. Jadeja at No. 7, Hardik Pandya at No. 6, Ishan Kishan at No. 5, Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, Virat Kohli at No. 3, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma at No. 1 and No. 2. At No. 8, either Shardul or Axar Patel will play. The team's combination will be like this."
Sanjay Bangar's India XI for Australia:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
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