My mother has told me that I've got to win the World Cup for India at any cost: Ishan Kishan

The ODI World Cup 2023 is well underway, and with the tournament having kicked off on October 5, there are added expectations for the Indian team. One of the biggest reasons for the same could be that India are hosting the marquee event completely for the first time.

Furthermore, being one of the best sides in world cricket and having a passionate fan base comes with added pressure for the side whenever they gear up for premium events.

As team India prepare to kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai, it could be interesting to see how the side fares in their very first game of the tournament. Speaking of the same, star Indian batter Ishan Kishan came forward to state that his mother had a special message for him ahead of the tournament.

"My mother has told me that I've got to win the World Cup for India at any cost, so there's some extra pressure,” Ishan Kishan was quoted as saying by OneCricket. 

Ishan Kishan to potentially feature following Gill scare

Furthermore, it seems like the time for Ishan Kishan has come. Ace opener Shubman Gill has fallen ill, and his inclusion in India’s lineup for their clash against Australia is a major doubt. If Gill does end up missing the clash against Australia, then Kishan could be the one to replace the ace opener.

The Patna-born wicketkeeper batter will come into the clash in brilliant form. In the league stage of the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023, Kishan played a masterful knock of 82 runs in 81 deliveries against Pakistan and stabilised team India’s innings when the entire side failed to go big. 

The 25-year-old has played 25 ODIs for India, where he has amassed 886 runs to his name and has maintained an average of 44.3 runs. If he does come in as Gill’s replacement, Kishan will look to put in a good performance and propel India to their first win in their very first game.