India likely to try Ishan Kishan in place of KS Bharat against West Indies

Wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat is under scanner after his below par performance against Australia in the recently-concluded World Test Champiopnship (WTC) final at the Oval.

As per sources, Team India management has taken a cue from England’s Bazball. They are likely to play aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan ahead of Bharat for the first Test match against West Indies, to be played at Dominica from July 12.

In the absence of Rishabh Pant due to injury, India roped in Bharat for the Border-Gavaskar Test series and the WTC final.  However, on rank turners at home, Bharat struggled to keep wickets against the spin duo off Ravichandran



Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. He also failed miserably as a batsman.

The void created after Pant’s injury is massive. Bharat in his five-match Test career has not looked that much convincing as a batsman. Ishan has also his share of problems against the short-pitch bowling. However, the pitches are relatively low and slow in West Indies. Ishan’s his hard-hitting batting prowess might give him an edge over Bharat.

Ishan seems to be the closest version of being a like-for-like replacement for Pant. The southpaw loves to attack the bowlers. A quickfire half-century lower down the middle order will help India’s cause in a tight situation during West Indies tour.