It is a big testament of faith to Yashasvi Jaiswal from the Indian team management, headed by captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid, that he has been selected over Shubman Gill to partner Rohit Sharma in the first T20I against Afghanistan.
India host Afghanistan for 3 T20Is, the first of which will be played on Thursday in Mohali, a good batting venue, preferring to the chasing team.
On the eve of the game, coach Rahul Dravid attended the press conference where he revealed that Yashasvi Jaiswal will start the game ahead of Gill as Rohit’s opening partner, and that Virat Kohli is not available for the first match due to personal reasons, but will return to play in the next two T20Is.
Dravid showed a vote of confidence in Yashasvi Jaiswal by saying, “As of now, we will be certainly opening with Rohit and Jaiswal”. There is a chance that with Kohli unavailable for the first game, Shubman Gill could play at number 3, but who will make way when Kohli returns.
This decision from the management comes after long debates among the fans as to whether India should pick Gill or Jaiswal as their T20I opener.
Here’s why India have made the right call in picking Yashasvi Jaiswal over Shubman Gill in T20Is against Afghanistan:
Jaiswal is a faster starter than Gill
Remember, India will be playing the T20 World Cup 2023 in the West Indies and the USA. The Super 8 round matches and the knockouts will be played in the West Indies. The pitches in the West Indies are expected to get challenging for batting as the innings progresses. This means that it’s even more imperative than usual for the top-order batters to capitalize on the powerplay overs. This is where Jaiswal stands miles ahead of Gill, and even Rohit and Kohli.
While Shubman Gill had a bumper IPL season last year, where he won the Orange Cap. Gill also slammed a T20I century against New Zealand at the start of last year, but has failed in most of his other T20I innings; Jaiswal made his India debut after IPL and has so far featured in 14 innings.
But Gill is more from the school of Kohli wherein the batters sets himself up early in his innings and then looks to explode. But what India would need is exactly what Jaiswal did in the IPL last season.
In T20 cricket since the start of 2023, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s powerplay strike rate is 163, while Shubman Gill’s powerplay strike rate in the same period is 138. As mentioned above, India will have to make the most out of the powerplay field restrictions and the harder new ball by getting a quickfire start from Jaiswal and Rohit before the ball gets softer and it gets difficult to hit boundaries when the fielders move back after six overs.
Also, lest one forget, Jaiswal brings a left-handedness to the top of the Indian order that has a spate of right-handers.
Rahul Dravid confirms Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal will open.
Excited to see both Intent merchants in power play. pic.twitter.com/PdQHqlN1lc— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) January 10, 2024
Rohit and Dravid have made the right call in picking Jaiswal over Gill as opener in T20Is; now they will need to back the left-hander.
Also Read: Comment: Rohit Sharma ‘Vada Pav’ Remark From Fans Is Disrespectful At So Many Levels
