Ambati Rayudu Wants Major Change Despite 2-0 Lead Over New Zealand, Murali Kartik Differs

Indian cricket team during the second ODI vs New Zealand.© X/@BCCI

Former India players Ambati Rayudu and Murali Kartik had contrasting opinions while discussing India's playing XI for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. The Shubman Gill-led side is 2-0 up after winning the first and second games by five wickets and four runs (DLS method), respectively. In both matches, India narrowly avoided defeat after struggling to chase down paltry targets under testing conditions. Amid the team's batting struggles, Rayudu opined that Ishan Kishan could be brought into the side by replacing Naman Dhir. Meanwhile, Kartik was against the change as he pointed out that Kishan should bat either as an opener or at number three.

India tried promoting Axar Patel to number five in both matches, but the player failed to live up to expectations. The southpaw scored a two-ball duck in the first ODI and seven off 17 balls in the second game.

"I just felt that Axar Patel, in these given conditions, maybe he is not ready to bat at number 5. At number 6 or 7, he can still come and do a job, but at number 5, I just feel that you need a proper batter who can handle these conditions. Maybe you know if Axar can come down at 6 or 7, we can look at Ishan Kishan going forward because we need a solid batter to bat along with Shreyas (Iyer) and KL (Rahul)," Rayudu said in a video on Cricbuzz.

When talking about the changes India's batting unit could go with, he added, "When the conditions are such that we have seen here, his best number is 6 or 7. We can either get Naman Dhir up or get Ishan Kishan into the mix because that is the only one area where I have seen a little bit of lack."

Kartik came up with a counterargument and said, "But Naman Dhir, some of his timing has looked really good. See, Ishan's position is at number 3. You've got King (Virat Kohli) at number 3, then you've got the vice-captain (Shreyas) at number 4, and then KL normally comes in at number 5. So putting Ishan Kishan at number 6 is a waste of time. Either Ishan Kishan opens, or Ishan Kishan is at 3. He's not a batter whom you can put down the order."

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