India vs Australia: Ishan and Shubman will be opening the innings says Hardik Pandya

India vs Australia: Team India’s skipper Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first ODI between India and Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya has made it clear that in absence of Rohit Sharma young Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan will open the batting for the Men in Blue.

Hardik Pandya declares Team India’s new opening pair ahead of India vs Australia ODI series

Team India’s stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya addressed a press conference ahead of the first ODI. The all-rounder made it pretty clear that the team management will trust young Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan as openers.

“Ishan and Shubman will be opening the innings. The wicket looks how it does throughout the year. I have been playing here for almost seven years. It is going to be challenging because this wicket will give equal opportunities to both the sides,” Hardik Pandya told reporters ahead of the first ODI against Australia.

“I don’t think we have tried anything new. We will be trying to be a little brave which I think in the last couple of series we have done quite well. All these bilaterals are as challenging, they can get as close to the wire as they can, ” the Indian skipper further added.

There were speculations of KL Rahul getting another chance to bat in the top order in Rohit Sharma’s absence. However, Pandya’s comment in the press conference has now put a full stop to all such speculations.

KL Rahul has recently started playing as a wicketkeeper batter and usually gets to play at number 5 position in the batting order.

Ishan Kishan scored a scintillating double hundred against Bangladesh in Chattogram in just 126 deliveries in December last year. Kishan’s double ton made his case really strong in front of Team India’s selectors who might consider him as the third opener for the ODI World Cup scheduled to begin later this year in October.

India vs Australia ODI series is crucial as the Indian Team will play just a handful games ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup in which they have to decide the combination for the marquee event.