“He has done everything to be frontrunner” – Gautam Gambhir wants Ishan Kishan to play ahead of KL Rahul for World Cup 2023.

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has offered his perspective on the selection dilemma facing the think tank for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Gambhir advocated for the inclusion of Ishan Kishan over KL Rahul in the playing XI, citing Ishan’s recent batting performances as the basis for his recommendation. The All-India Senior Men’s Selection Committee has maintained a core team from the Asia Cup squad, which will participate in the upcoming World Cup set to take place in India from October 5.

The decision-makers are confronted with a challenging task in finalizing the middle order, particularly in choosing between Rahul and Ishan. Gambhir emphasized his position on this matter, underscoring that Ishan’s recent batting exploits position him as the frontrunner for a spot in the XI ahead of Rahul.

It is worth noting that Ishan Kishan has been in remarkable form, registering scores of 82, 77, 55, and 52 in his last four ODIs. In contrast, Rahul is making a return to the ODI setup following a hiatus due to a knee injury sustained during IPL 2023. Rahul is set to rejoin the squad in the upcoming match against Pakistan during the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023 on Sunday, September 10.

Gambhir said “Tell me something, what is more important to win a championship — name or form? If Rohit (Sharma) or Virat (Kohli) had scored something similar (four consecutive fifties), would you still say that KL Rahul would replace them?”

“The point is, when you’re gearing up to win the World Cup, you don’t see the name, you judge by their form. You choose the player who can perform and win you the World Cup. I feel Ishan Kishan has done everything he needs to do to be a frontrunner.”

Gambhir reiterated his stance by suggesting that if the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma occupied the top positions in the lineup, there would be no room for Rahul in the team, saying

“Just because he is Ishan Kishan and hasn’t played a lot of international cricket, you’re saying that KL Rahul should play before him. But if Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma were in place of Ishan Kishan, would KL Rahul be able to replace them? The answer is ‘no’.”