Ishan Kishan is a hot contender for India's wicketkeeper-batsman slot: MSK Prasad

Former India chief selector MSK Prasad believes Ishan Kishan is a hot contender for Team India’s limited-overs wicketkeeper-batsman after his impressive display in the recently-concluded IPL 2020. The 22-year-old starred with the bat and played a key role in Mumbai Indians’ title triumph. Kishan enjoyed his most prolific IPL season so far as he showed his batting abilities once again.

Despite not being a part of the playing eleven for the first two games, he finished the season as Mumbai Indians’ highest run-scorer ahead of the likes of Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma and in-form Suryakumar Yadav. Kishan finished IPL 2020 with 516 runs at an average of 57.33 and a strike-rate of more than 145.

Overall, he was the fifth-highest run-scorer in IPL 2020 despite playing the least number of games among the top ten run-scorers of this season. He also made an impression with his power-hitting. The ‘pocket dynamite’ struck 30 sixes, the most by any batsman in IPL 2020.

‘Ishan Kishan will be a welcome addition’: MSK Prasad

Following Ishan Kishan’s prolific outing in IPL 2020, MSK Prasad has lavished praise on the youngster. The former India wicketkeeper, whose tenure as chief selector ended last year, was all praise for Kishan’s adaptability and temperament. He pointed out how Kishan performed well after being promoted to open the innings.

Kishan had scored a match-winning fifty after he was asked to open the innings in the absence of injured Rohit Sharma. Prasad said that Kishan’s ‘ability to switch gears as per the team’s requirements’ makes him a hot contender for the wicketkeeper-role for Team India.

“It’s really fantastic to see this pocket dynamite in action. He had a fantastic IPL. Batting at No. 4 and later opening the innings, shows his adaptability and temperament. His ability to switch gears as per the team’s requirements will definitely place him as a hot contender for the wicketkeeper-batsman slot for Team India in both T20s & ODIs in times to come,” Prasad was quoted as saying by TOI.

“If he can keep wickets well and bat the same way he did in the IPL, he will be a welcome addition to the national squad,” he added.