Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes the Indian team might be considering bringing in the dynamic left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal during the ongoing T20 World Cup. The current opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has been underwhelming, with partnerships of just 22, 12, 0, and 11 so far.
While the Indian team management might want to maintain their winning combination, Manjrekar thinks Jaiswal’s potential to change the game single-handedly is a temptation too strong to ignore.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar said:
“A left-hander, plus the kind of game that he (Jaiswal) has. At some stage, India will feel the pressure of having a batter like him to open. If something is not working at the top, you can’t keep having that plan through the tournament. It’s like a monkey sitting on your shoulder.”
Manjrekar also acknowledged that this dilemma would resolve itself if Rohit and Kohli regain their form. However, he emphasized the importance of these star players performing well in the crucial semifinal and final matches.
Anil Kumble on How India Can Fit Yashasvi Jaiswal into Their XI
Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who joined the conversation, provided insights on how India could incorporate Yashasvi Jaiswal into their playing XI:
“The only option for India in case they do open with Yashasvi is they drop Virat down to No.3 and then push Rishabh at five and then obviously Shivam Dube misses out.”
Shivam Dube had a lackluster performance against Afghanistan, scoring just 10 runs off seven balls. Chosen for his ability to handle spinners, it remains to be seen if India will continue with Dube or opt for a change.
Will India take the bold step of including Jaiswal in their lineup, or will they stick with their current strategy? The decision could be crucial as the tournament progresses.
