In the absence of Pant, Ishan Kishan is a contender for a place in the Test team, Azharuddin told a better option

A four-match Test series is to be played between India and Australia in February. BCCI announced Team India for the first two Test matches on Friday. Many new players have been given a chance in this team. At the same time, former Indian captain and veteran batsman Mohammad Azharuddin believes that Ishaan Kishan can be a better option for the wicket-keeper batsman in the absence of Rishabh Pant for the Test series against Australia.

Ishan Kishan strong contender for a place on the team: Azhar

Azhar, who is playing the role of commentator in the International League T20 in UAE, said in an interview with PTI-Bhasha that what happened to Pant is very sad. It is difficult to fill his place in the Test team, but due to his aggressive style of batting, Kishan is a strong contender for a place in the team. Azhar said, 'Very bad happened to Pant. Ishaan Kishan has been selected for the Indian Test team and with the kind of rhythm he is in, I think he will be a stronger contender for the wicket-keeper batsman. Let us tell you that Pant was badly injured in a car accident on 30 December 2022 while going from Delhi to Roorkee. were injured in some way. While recovering from injury, he will be away from the game for most of the 2023 season.

Kishan is also a fearless player like Pant

Azhar further said that 'Ishaan Kishan also plays fearlessly like Pant and he is a left-handed batsman. India needs such a variety (of left-handed batsman) in the top and middle order. However, due to the presence of KS Bharat, it will not be easy for Kishan to make it to the playing XI of the Test team. Bharat has been with the team for almost a year and has scored three half-centuries in four first-class matches in the last one-and-a-half months, including a 77 when he represented India A against Bangladesh A. Please tell me that despite scoring a double-century against Bangladesh, Kishan could not retain his place in the ODI team.

Indian team for the first 2 Tests against Australia

Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, C Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mo. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.