IND vs PAK | Watch: Gautam Gambhir Picks India's Top Four For Asia Cup 2023 Match

Keeping in mind, that Ishan bats top of the order, Gambhir suggested that Ishan should open the innings with Shubman Gill.

According to Gambhir Ishan should open the innings with Shubman Gill. ( Image Source :Getty )

Ahead of the much-awaited India vs Pakistan clash, former India player Gautam Gambhir came up with a suggestion for India's batting line-up. The two sides will battle at  Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Saturday. Since KL Rahul is still recovering from a niggle and will not be available for the two games of the Asia Cup 2023, Ishan Kishan will be added as wicketkeeper-batsman. Keeping in mind, that Ishan bats top of the order, Gambhir suggested that Ishan should open the innings with Shubman Gill.

Speaking on Star Sports, Gambhir said, "Maine pehle bhi bola hai ki agar Ishan Kishan khelte hai toh Ishan Kishan aur Shubman Gill ko open karna chahiye. Ye koi experimentation nahi hai, kyuki Ishan ne pichli series mein bhi open kiya hai, so I feel Rohit Sharma 4 number khelna chahiye, Virat Kohli ko teen number he khelna chahiye (I have said earlier as well that if Ishan Kishan is playing then he should open the innings along with Shubman Gill. This is not experimentation because, in the last series as well, Ishan was the opener. So I feel Rohit Sharma should come down at No. 4 and Virat Kohli should continue batting at No. 3)."

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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 2, 2023

Talking about the India vs Pakistan game, India won the toss and opted to bat first in Kandy.

Rohit Sharma at the time of the toss, said, “We are going to bat first. There is a bit of weather around, but can't think much about it. Got to play good cricket, you need to embrace the challenge, embrace the situation. We had some time off after the West Indies series. Everyone was up for those drills and challenges in Bangalore. Let's see what we can achieve in this tournament. It's a quality tournament with quality oppositions. At the end of the day we need to see what we can achieve as a team. Iyer is back, Bumrah is back and we got three seamers. Got two spinners - Kuldeep and Jadeja.”

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.