'He batted at a decent strike rate and...' - Former Indian selector bats for Rahul Tripathi's place in playing XI for 1st T20I against NZ

Team India under the captaincy of stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya is set to take on New Zealand in the first of three-match T20I series at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium in Ranchi. Both teams will play this match on Friday, the 27^th of January. Meanwhile, the combination of the playing XI would also be a concern for the skipper Hardik Pandya and the Indian team management.

Advertisment

There is a bit of discussion among the people for the batter to pick on the number three position in the batting lineup of the Indian team. Subsequently, the former Indian selector Saba Karim has also come with his opinion on the same and backed the Jharkhand-born batter Rahul Tripathi for the number three position in the batting lineup.

“I want to see Rahul Tripathi get more opportunities at No. 3 because he did well in his second game. He batted at a decent strike rate. When you have such a good batter, there is no need to make too many changes,” said Karim to India news.

“Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya are no doubt No.4 and 5 batters. Play Deepak Hooda at No. 6.

Advertisment

Those who have performed well should be given opportunities - Saba Karim

“Team India must look at the batters who performed in the last T20I series. The first-choice openers should be Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan. Those who have performed well should be given opportunities,” he added later.

Earlier, the Indian T20I skipper Hardik Pandya also opened up about Gill’s place in the playing XI for the T20I series against the visitors.

“Shubman Gill has done well and will start the series. The way he is batting, he was already in the team,” said Pandya.

Earlier, the men in blue defeated the Kiwis in the three-match ODI series by a margin of 3-0. Young Indian batter Shubman Gill won the ‘player of the series award for his brilliant batting performances throughout the entire series.