Kishan should be Rohit's opening partner in ODIs: Gautam Gambhir

Ishan Kishan scored a double ton vs Bangladesh [Source: Associated Press]

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has backed Ishan Kishan to open alongside Rohit Sharma in ODIs. He reckons that Kishan, and no one else should be India's opener for the foreseeable future.

Kishan converted his maiden ODI century into a double ton against Bangladesh in the recently concluded series. Moreover, with Shikhar Dhawan out of the Indian squad, Gambhir believes that the management should persist with Kishan.

When asked about who should be Rohit's opening partner, Gambhir said:

"I'm amazing we are discussing this because someone got a double hundred in the previous innings. The discussion is over. It has to be Ishan Kishan. Someone who can get a double hundred in those conditions against a reasonable attack - should play.

He got what 200 by the 35th over mark? You can't look beyond Ishan Kishan. He has to be given a longer run, he can keep wickets as well. So, for me that discussion shouldn't be there. If someone else would have got a double hundred we would have gone gung-ho over that individual, but that's not the case with Kishan," Gambhir told ESPNCricinfo.

Gambhir also reckons that Suryakumar Yadav should be slotted in at number four, despite boasting an average record at that position.

In 16 ODIs, Suryakumar has scored 384 runs, with just two half-centuries.

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