"BCCI and Rohit think Ishan Kishan is Rishabh Pant" - Fans react as wicketkeeper-batter makes his debut in IND vs WI 1st Test

Ishan Kishan is set to make his Test debut for Team India in the first Test against West Indies at Windsor Park in Dominica on Wednesday, July 12.

The wicketkeeper-batter has been included after warming the bench during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. He received his maiden Test cap from former India captain Virat Kohli.

The 24-year-old has been picked ahead of KS Bharat as a specialist keeper in the playing XI. The latter got dropped after failing to make his impact in the first five Tests, scoring just 129 runs at an underwhelming average of 18.42 without a single half-century.

For the uninitiated, Kishan has so far amassed 2,985 runs in 48 first-class games at an average of 38.76, including six centuries and 16 fifties. The left-handed batter was last seen in action for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023, scoring 454 runs in 16 games, including three half-centuries.

Fans on Twitter came up with mixed reactions to Kishan's Test debut. One tweeted:

"BCCI and Rohit think Ishan Kishan is Rishabh Pant."

Here are some of the other Twitter reactions:

---

“I want two debutants to enjoy, they’ve worked hard to come here” – Rohit Sharma on Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal

Indian captain Rohit Sharma lauded Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal for making their Test debuts against West Indies on Wednesday. After being asked to bowl first, Sharma said at the toss:

“New guys in the squad, we just want to keep better as a team. I want the two debutants to enjoy, they've worked hard to come here. I want to make them feel comfortable and have some good memories of their first Test.”

It’s worth mentioning that Jaiswal has so far played 15 first-class games, amassing 1845 runs at an average of 80.21, including nine tons. The left-handed batter recently smashed a double century in the Irani Cup 2023.

---

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj.

West Indies (Playing XI): Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva (w), Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.

Click here to follow IND vs WI 1st Test live score updates.