'Sure-Shot Opener For India At World Cup': Brett Lee Backs This Youngster To Solve Opening Woes

Ishan hit 200 runs in just 126 balls, breaking Chris Gayle's record of scoring a double ton in 138 balls.

Ishan Kishan in action.

Source : Getty

The Indian cricket team's bench strength is immense. Be it Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, or Umran Malik, everyone has been performing brilliantly. Since the ODI World Cup is just a year away, Brett Lee suggested Ishan Kishan to fix his place in the team ahead of the World Cup next year.

"With this deadly double, Ishan has staked a strong claim to open for India in the ODI World Cup at home in 2023. Will this happen? I don't know. Should it happen? Hell yeah it should. The guy just scored the fastest 200 in ODI history. But if he can show consistency, stay fit, and be around the next few months, he should be a sure-shot opener for India at the World Cup," Lee said on his YouTube channel.

Earlier,  Ishan hit 200 runs in just 126 balls, breaking Chris Gayle's record of scoring a double ton in 138 balls in the third and final ODI match against Bangladesh. With this knock, the young Indian batsman becomes the seventh person in the world and fourth from India after Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and Virender Sehwag to achieve this milestone.

"Back Ishan to make it in the World Cup squad with an eye on the future and clearly, he would be on a high after that knock as he should be. However, a word of caution. Too much praise had led to cobwebs in the head. So my advice to Ishan Kishan would be... forget about the milestone, forget about the double hundred as soon as you can. There are bigger milestones to achieve, higher peaks to scale. Ishan Kishan has to forget about the euphoria of his double hundred. Just focus on the process, stay fit and keep smashing big runs," Lee added.

"I am a little late in reacting to this, but as they say... better late than never. What we saw just a few days ago from Ishan Kishan was truly amazing. Bangladesh had no answer. The fastest double-hundred in ODI history, that's right. 210 runs off just 132 balls... 24 fours and 10 massive sixes. A ferocious knock with shots all around the dial. Unbelievable batting, he could have easily got a triple hundred as well. It helped that he had the master Virat Kohli at the other end. What I loved about the innings was not just Ishan Kishan's shot-making but Kohli's reaction when Ishan ran the 200th run. What a great spirit and camaraderie between the two," stated the former Australia speedster.