Murali Kartik questions India's decision to send Ishan Kishan to No. 6 in NZ ODI

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first when the two teams met for the fifth ODI of their series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 15. India's batting order in the match drew immediate scrutiny from former players and analysts, particularly the placement of Ishan Kishan at No. 6 with Axar Patel batting ahead of him at No. 5.

Former India cricketer Murali Kartik questioned the tactical decision to demote Kishan in the order. Kartik's concern centred on what he viewed as an unusual positioning for a player with established credentials as a top-order batter in shorter formats.

"Why was Ishan Kishan suddenly pushed down? What sort of versatility are they expecting from him? I understand he's not in the top 3, but to be pushed down to 6, what was the thought there? If it was Axar coming ahead to protect Kishan against the new ball, it's like a night watchman in a day game," Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

Kartik elaborated on his perspective regarding Kishan's role in the team structure. The former cricketer believes Kishan's background as an opener and top-order player in T20 cricket makes him unsuitable for a finisher's position in ODI cricket.

"I wouldn't think of Kishan as a finisher. If anything, I would think of bumping him up the order because he's an opener and bats in the top 3 in T20 cricket. So I actually want him up there in the batting order. Why do you want him as a finisher when you have Hardik Pandya and the rest? I don't look at Kishan as a finisher at all," he added.

Kartik's critique highlighted the availability of other squad members better suited to the finisher's role. The debate over India's middle-order composition and the optimal placement of established batters remained a point of discussion throughout the series, with selectors and analysts offering differing views on the best approach to balance the lineup against New Zealand's bowling attack.