Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has praised opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as one of the best batters in the team. Stating that the opener has performed in ODIs whenever he has had the opportunity, Kotak urged him to keep working hard as well.  Jaiswal has been named in India’s squad for the three-match one-day series against the West Indies. However, with captain Shubman Gill and veteran batter Rohit Sharma being the frontline openers, Jaiswal is unlikely to find a place in the playing XI as well.

Speaking ahead of the first ODI against the West Indies, Kotak said (via India Today): “I think there is so much competition (for team spots) and so many players are performing. Jaiswal, we all know he is one of the best batters and whenever he gets an opportunity he performs. So he is part of the team.”

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“As a support staff, we look after his skills, practise and his mindset and Gautam (Gambhir) also talks to him a lot, but sometimes you see, say if (for example) there are three very good wicketkeepers, only one can play. So, it is not that somebody has been unfair to him. He should keep working hard and waiting for the opportunity,” he added.

Team India’s preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup have already started and Kotak stated that the experience of the senior players will be invaluable heading into the ICC event as well.

“See, it is all about selling experience. They always do that. Whenever I have seen all the experienced players, even Gautam because he was playing, the level they have experienced, and when they see some player is going through a similar condition or situation, they always talk to them. I think selling experience or selling whatever you have learnt is a great thing to do because it is getting knowledge or refreshing your knowledge as well. So, I always see them talking to senior players even when they abstain from talking to me or Morne (Morkel) or Sairaj (Bahutule),” he concluded.