'Playing Ishan Kishan Straight in WTC Final Asking ...': Dinesh Karthik
Ishan Kishan was drafted due to KL Rahul's unavailability [Source: Twitter]
With not much time left for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023, former players and fans are already ideating their preferred India XI for the marquee clash against Australia next month. The WTC Final will be played at The Oval beginning June 7. One of the major conundrums for India will be the wicket-keeping slot, which is being contested by KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan.
While Bharat was a part of India's original WTC squad, Kishan was drafted late after KL Rahul's unfortunate injury during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
India's wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes that it will be asking plenty from Kishan to make his Test debut against Australia in a high-profile match. Speaking on The ICC Review, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player preferred Bharat as the designated keeper over Kishan.
Here's what DK said
"I think Bharat will be a pretty straightforward choice because playing Ishan Kishan in his debut and a Test match straight in the World Test Championship Final is asking a bit too much.
And the fact that KS Bharat probably tips the scale in favour of himself just a little bit with this keeping edge that he has got. So I do think they will go in with KS Bharat for the final,”
Former India player and coach Ravi Shastri also backed Karthik's views on playing Bharat, maintaining that Andhra Pradesh-born keeps if India plays two spinners.
Heading into the WTC Final, Kishan has been in red-hot form for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2023, amassing 454 runs, while Bharat has warmed the bench for Gujarat Titans (GT).
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