IND vs WI: Ishan Kishan to open the innings with Rohit Sharma in 1st ODI

Rohit Sharma will officially take over as Team India’s full-time ODI skipper during the first game against the West Indies at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. India would be hoping to make amends in the three-match home series after their whitewash in the 50-over format in South Africa last week.

Meanwhile, the limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul has been rested for the opening game as he will reportedly be attending his sister’s wedding and Mayank Agarwal, as well as Ishan Kishan, have been roped in. Rohit has made it clear that his former Mumbai Indians teammate would be opening the innings alongside him as he is the only option the Men In Blue has got.

Even though Agarwal is a part of the Indian squad, the opener is still in quarantine. Mayank who had joined the squad on Thursday is under a mandatory three-day quarantine which is expected to end on the match day.

Ishan Kishan is the only option we are left with, says Rohit Sharma

“Ishan Kishan will open the innings with me. He is the only option we are left with. Mayank Agarwal was added to the squad but, he is still in quarantine according to the rules that’ve been set”, said Rohit Sharma during the press conference ahead of the first ODI against the West Indies.

The wicketkeeper batter was the second player after Mayank Agarwal to receive an emergency call-up to the Indian ODI squad after a sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in the camp. Regular openers Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad are set to miss the One Day International series after being tested positive for coronavirus.

Even middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been tested positive for the virus and Ishan Kishan could supposedly get a chance to play the entire series in case Shreyas is unable to recover in time and with the Indian team not having too many options in the middle-order at the moment.

Rohit Sharma & Co. would be looking forward to put the South Africa debacle behind by coming out on top in the three-match ODI series against the Windies.