Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the Men in Blue might be tempted to bring the explosive left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal into their playing XI during the ongoing T20 World Cup. The current opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli hasn’t worked out well, with partnerships of just 22, 12, 0, and 11 so far.
While the Indian team management may want to stick with their tried-and-tested lineup, Manjrekar feels Jaiswal’s ability to single-handedly win games is a temptation that could shake things up in the playing XI.
Here’s what Sanjay Manjrekar had to say to ESPNCricinfo:
“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 conundrum could be resolved if Rohit and Kohli both return to their best form. However, he emphasized the importance of these two stars performing well in the semifinal and the final.
Anil Kumble’s Take on Including Yashasvi Jaiswal
Former Indian legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble also weighed in on the discussion, offering a strategy to fit Yashasvi Jaiswal into the playing XI:
“The only option for India, if they decide to open with Yashasvi, is to drop Virat down to No. 3 and then push Rishabh Pant to No. 5, which would mean Shivam Dube misses out.”
Shivam Dube had a lackluster performance against Afghanistan, scoring just 10 runs off seven balls. Picked for his ability to take on spinners, it remains to be seen whether India will stick with Dube or opt for the dynamic Jaiswal.
The potential inclusion of Jaiswal adds an intriguing layer of decision-making for the Indian team management, as they balance the need for stability with the lure of explosive potential.
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