After ending the South Africa tour, Team India is on their way to their last T20 series before the T20 World Cup 2024. On January 11, Team India will lock horns with Afghanistan in a three-match T20 series. Before that match day, Team India’s head coach Rahul Dravid talked about their first choice for the opening pair in the T20 format.
Rohit and Kohli’s Comeback and Team’s Opening Preference:
After almost 14 months, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the T20 format. In 2022, after losing the semifinal against England, the duo didn’t feature in any T20 game. A lot of speculation was going over their T20 future. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to happen in June 2024. In the T20 series against Afghanistan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the team. That has become a big boost for the team.
In the pre-match press conference, head coach Rahul Dravid talked about their preference for the opening position. They are opting for Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening position. In that case, Shubman Gill has become the third option for the opening position.
Dravid said, “ As of now, we will be certainly opening with Rohit and Jaiswal, But when you have a squad, you have to have that flexibility to do whatever is required if that is in the best interest of the team and gives us the best chance to succeed.”
Later he added, “So nothing is closed. But certainly, we’re really happy with what Jaiswal has done as an opener for us, and he gives us a left-right combination as well at the top.”
Jaiswal’s Career:
Jaiswal joined the team after a stellar IPL 2023, ranking fifth in run-getters with 625 runs and an outstanding strike rate of 163.61. Impressively, he carried this form into international T20s since his debut against West Indies in August 2023, amassing 430 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 159.25.
His powerplay strike rate since 2023 is 163.69, surpassing Gill’s 138.44 in the same period. Jaiswal’s consistent performance showcases his impact, making him a valuable asset for the team at both IPL and international levels.
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