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Xtra Time Web Desk : Team India was hit by COVID-19 on Wednesday as three players in the Indian camp in Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer tested positive for the deadly virus just days before the start of the ODI rubber against West Indies which is scheduled to be played from February 6 at Ahmedabad.

As a result of the COVID scare, the squad got depleted for which the selectors called up Mayank Agarwal as a replacement.

But former BCCI selector Saba Karim has now opined that not Mayank but 'Ishan Kishan' should open the batting with skipper Rohit Sharma, although the 23 year old wasn't a part of the initial ODI squad.

In an interview with India News, Karim said, "You don't have options left as well as your squad has been severely depleted because of the players who have gotten infected. Because of that, I feel we will see a new approach. This will be the right combination as well because if Ishan Kishan opens with Rohit Sharma, the sort of character Ishan has, his strike rate is always high, which means he can take advantage of the powerplay. It will provide more time for Rohit Sharma to get settled because he is a player who can play for a long time due to which India will also benefit. I feel this right and left-handed combination where both have different styles of playing, Kishan takes more risks on one side because of which the strike rate is very high,"

"I feel it is the right choice. Mayank Agarwal has been kept as a backup in the team at the moment. The other reason is also that Ishan Kishan's track record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is exceptional. He has hit hundreds many times and whenever he hits a century it is a big one. It will be a very big value add for the Indian team if Ishan Kishan opens and plays a good knock for the team. This move will help us bring the change in the Indian team's white-ball template we have been frequently talking about," added the ex BCCI selector.