it will be difficult to ignore Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan for T20 World Cup: Harbhajan Singh

Tags: T20 World Cup 2021, India, Prithvi Pankaj Shaw, Ishan Pranav Kumar Pandey Kishan, Harbhajan Singh

Published on: Jul 20, 2021

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has heaped praise on Ishan Kishan and Prithvi Shaw for their impressive knocks in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo, which the visitors won by 7 wickets on Sunday.

Opener Shaw hammered 43 in only 24 balls while Ishan scored a half-century on ODI debut. Ishan made a mature 59 runs off 42 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

According to Harbhajan, the selectors will find it difficult to ignore Shaw and Kishan for the T20 World Cup later in the year. Speaking with Sports Tak, the off-spinner said, “You can judge a player on his performances. The way Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan have batted in an international game shows how capable they are and it will be difficult to ignore them for the T20 World Cup. If you want to win the World Cup you need players like them. They don't see who is bowling in the opposition. They just back their natural game.”

Harbhajan also praised Suryakumar Yadav, who scored an unbeaten 31 off 20 on ODI debut. Yadav already has 89 runs in two T20I innings at a strike rate of 185.41. The veteran cricketer explained, “They should not be ignored based on their performances. Even if selectors have to replace a senior player, they should go ahead and do it. I also feel Suryakumar Yadav has sealed his place for the T20 World Cup. He not only plays an attacking brand of cricket but is also capable of preserving his wicket and scoring quickly at the same time.”

India impressed in the first ODI in Colombo on Sunday. Bowling first, they restricted Sri Lanka to 262 for 9. Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets apiece.

When it was India’s turn to bat, skipper Shikhar Dhawan made an unbeaten 86 off 95 balls as India raced past the target in 36.4 overs.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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