How can KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan be in the same playing XI in Cricket World Cup 2023? Rohit Sharma explains

Rohit Sharma-led India have KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan as wicket-keeper batsmen in the World Cup squad.

Ishan Kishan's 82 runs against Pakistan have ignited a debate among fans about who will play for India when Rahul comes back. KL Rahul is now fit and ready for a comeback against Pakistan in India’s opening super 4 fixture. Rahul will be joining Indian camp for the remainder of Asia Cup. With Rahul’s comeback, Kishan will have to sit on the bench. Both of them are also part of India's World Cup squad. Indian captain Rohit Sharma said during his press conference while announcing Indian team for the World Cup that if needed, these two can play together in the same XI.

Rohit's big statement on Kishan and Rahul

As most of the positions in Indian playing XI look filled, with Rohit and Shubman as openers, Virat Kohli at number 3, and Shreyas Iyer at number 4, only a battle remains between Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul at number 5 and wicket-keeping positions. Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that if needed, he can accommodate both of them in the same XI. Rohit said, "Yes, there is every possibility that these two can play together. Everyone’s available to play. The selection depends upon who will be the opposition." Ishan Kishan has scored four consecutive half-centuries in his last four ODI innings for India.

Team India will have to make it clear about their first choice as wicket-keeper-batsman in the playing XI. Rahul has done extremely well for India in that position, and similarly, Ishan Kishan has been in red-hot form recently. India will play Pakistan in their next game in Asia Cup 2023. Indian captain Rohit Sharma also wants to cover India’s lack of options in lower-order batting. India struggled to get a decent number 8 and 9 option in playing XI. Now, with Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel, he looks to have that covered. Rohit also said that a bowler's job is not only to bowl.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma added, "We need to create both bowling and batting depth. It was important to get depth in both. Number 8 and Number 9 positions become crucial. We saw it in the first game of the Asia Cup. We fell short in the back end; it shows that what the job of 8, 9, 10, and 11 is, their job is not only to bowl." India were bundled out for just 266 runs against Pakistan in their first match of Asia Cup 2023. No one apart from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya could stay at the wicket for long or add a big partnership. Kishan and Pandya added 138 runs for the fifth wicket.