Asia Cup 2023: India are vulnerable in the middle order, says Gautam Gambhir

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir expressed relief as the team persisted with Ishan Kishan in the XI against Pakistan in the Super 4s on Sunday. With KL Rahul declared fit, there were questions over Kishan’s place in the team.

Asia Cup Live Cricket: India vs Pakistan

Back spasms at the eleventh hour to Shreyas Shreyas Iyer brought KL Rahul into the playing XI. Yet, India management included both KL Rahul and Ishan with the latter clearly rewarded for his performance against Pakistan in the group stage encounter.

“It would’ve been unfortunate had Ishan Kishan missed out. Shreyas Iyer misses out due to back spasms. It is a great opportunity for KL Rahul, purely as a batter. He is coming off after a long layoff. I am sure he’ll be nervous but it will be a great opportunity again,” Gambhir said after the toss on broadcaster Star Sports.

Among the changes, Jasprit Bumrah also returned to the India XI with Mohammed Shami making way.

Despite KL Rahul’s return, Gambhir said he finds the Indian middle-order ‘vulnerable’ especially against Pakistan which has a potent seam bowling attack.

“But India are looking vulnerable in the middle-order. They’ve got someone like KL Rahul batting at No. 4. He hasn’t batted for the last 7-8 months. Ishan Kishan has only batted once at No. 5. Then you’ve got Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja,” Gambhir said.

“Pakistan would feel if they can get 2-3 early wickets, they will get into that shaky middle-order which can be a little iffy,” he added.

India’s XI vs Pakistan: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj