If the recent warm-up match between India and Bangladesh is any indication, it appears that Yashasvi Jaiswal may not be the top choice to open alongside Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Instead, it was Sanju Samson who partnered with the India skipper, as Virat Kohli was absent from the team, having arrived late from the United States of America.
While Rohit mentioned that the team’s composition is not yet finalized, the warm-up match hinted that Jaiswal may not be the preferred option according to the team management.
Sunil Gavaskar, a legendary figure in Indian cricket, believes that Virat Kohli should partner with Rohit Sharma as the opening batsman for India, considering that Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn’t been performing consistently. Kohli’s exceptional performance in IPL 2024, where he emerged as the top scorer with more than 700 runs, adds weight to this argument.
“The kind of form Virat Kohli has been in, especially in the second half of the season, he should open with Rohit Sharma. Good players are good players, the kind of form Kohli has shown in the IPL, he has to open the batting. It’s good to talk about the left-hand, right-hand combination on television, but good players are good players no matter where they bat,” Gavaskar said in a chat on Star Sports after the T20 World Cup opener between USA and Canada.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn’t been in the sort of form we saw him in during the Test series,” the India legend said of the left-hander who will compete with Virat for the second opener’s spot.
It would have been fantastic if Virat could have participated in the practice match against Bangladesh for India, but his delayed arrival made it unfeasible. Nonetheless, the top-order batsman is hopeful of securing a spot in the team’s playing XI as they kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 05.
Jaiswal may not get opportunities too soon since both Virat and Rohit are crucial to the team’s lineup. However, there could be a chance for him to take on another role within the batting unit.