'Certainly a bit of worry for India as they have invested in them' - Ajit Agarkar worries Ishan Kishan, SKY's lean patch

It is not wrong to say that Mumbai Indians’ (MI) dip in the form of the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is because of the non-contribution of their two batters Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan. While the former has not yet passed double-digit scores in the four matches that he has played, the latter was dropped from the team against Punjab Kings (PBKS) during MI’s last match.

The duo’s dwindling returns have put added pressure on the likes of Keiron Pollard, Saurabh Tiwary, and Hardik Pandya to score runs lower down the order and rescue the team out of trouble. But what is the bigger worry for team India is Kishan and Yadav’s lack of runs have come just before the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The duo has been named in the 15-member squad by the BCCI selection panel and such low returns must be playing in the minds of the management and the selectors.

Cricketer-turned-expert Ajit Agarkar feels Ishan Kishan and Yadav’s form must be a worry for team India in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. The former India pace bowler also expressed surprise over Yadav’s lack of confidence during the UAE leg of the IPL.

“It was nothing shot from Suryakumar Yadav (when he got out). Everyone goes through bad patches. But you still want to try and bat a few balls. Just look so short of confidence, Suryakumar Yadav at the moment. This must be a worry for them. He needs to spend some time on the pitch,” Agarkar said on Star Sports.

“If you bat a certain number of balls, and if you have the ability, the rhythm might come back. Today was a great chance because the other pitches have been a lot tougher. So, it is certainly a little bit of worry because he has looked way short of form and confidence,” he added.

Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan’s lack of form is certainly a worry for India: Ajit Agarkar

Although ICC has given teams time till October 10 to tweak the squad, by the looks of it, both Kishan and Yadav might not be axed at this juncture. But Agarkar believes that the duo’s lean patch might start to worry the management. In absence of Kishan, Tiwary grabbed his chance and scored a crucial 45 runs.

“Suryakumar has been in so good in form for India, and in past few IPLs, it’s just surprising how short he has looked in form and confidence. Ishan Kishan was also, rightly left out in my opinion by MI. Yes, he has been part of the Indian team, but Saurabh Tiwary has looked good. And Mumbai had to win this game.

“So they needed a couple of players in good form because Mumbai’s middle-order has looked quite fragile. But it is certainly a little bit of worry for India because they have invested in these two guys, and at this point, they do not look great,” Agarkar signed off.