IND vs NZ: Sanjay Manjrekar suggests Virat Kohli to sacrifice his batting position to slot in Ishan Kishan

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed his desire to see Ishan Kishan open the innings in the forthcoming ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence on January 18, 2023.

Check out: India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI - Live Cricket Score 

Ishan Kishan was not given a nod ahead of Shubman Gill in the ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier, with Shubman Gill getting the opener's slot alongside Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. This move by the Indian think-tank faced a bit of flak from several corners on the social media platforms.

Virat Kohli sacrifices his No. 3 for a No. 4: Sanjay Majrekar

During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan', the 57-year-old answered a question around the opening slot of team India. He gave a solution to having both, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill in the team with Virat Kohli demoting himself in the batting order.

"It's going to be still tricky. One guy is going to be really upset. I have got an idea to sort this mess out. Have Shubman Gill bat at No. 3, he seems like he can handle that position, and then Virat Kohli sacrifices his No. 3 for a No. 4."

On being asked again about Kohli sacrificing his No.3 position for No.4, Sanjay Manjrekar mentioned that Kohli had much earlier sacrificed his No. 3 position for the team, and that Kishan can definitely be explosive in the top order.

"He has done that before to Ambati Rayudu once, many years back against Sri Lanka. So that could be a way to sort it out. Ishan Kishan after his double hundred, left and right-handed combination at the top is not such a bad idea."

Ishan Kishan had scored a double hundred in his last ODI outing against Bangladesh, but had to warm the bench for the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

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