Former India player turned commentator Irfan Pathan has said that Yashasvi Jaiswal’s continued rough patch in IPL 2024 might tempt the Indian team to open with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener was bowled for a mere four runs against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Guwahati on Wednesday, May 15.
While speaking on Star Sports, Pathan said, “It’s a massive area of concern because I believe Yashasvi Jaiswal should start in the World Cup as he is a left-handed batter. So the opposing team won’t start with a left-arm spinner. They will hesitate a little if he is in form. However, in this form, the team will think twice. The team will think whether they should open with in-form Virat Kohli alongside Rohit Sharma, or go with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is young and inexperienced. So it’s extremely necessary for him to come in form.”
Despite scoring a century, Jaiswal has hit 348 runs at a below-par average of 29.00 in 13 innings in IPL 2024 as well. On the other hand, Kohli has scored 661 runs at an excellent average of 66.10 in 13 innings as an opener for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) this
season as well.
However, Irfan Pathan also added that Yashasvi Jaiswal’s indifferent form is a concern even for the Rajasthan Royals too as he wasn’t
dismissed while playing an extravagant shot in Wednesday’s game. He also advised Jaiswal to play with timing on the offside and aggressively on the leg-side as well.
“The good thing for Yashasvi is that he will get chances because his team has qualified, and if they make a place in the top two, he will get more chances. Keeping that in mind, there are a few positive things for Yashasvi, but this form will trouble Rajasthan Royals a lot as well. (Jos) Buttler is not there. If he is not there, which is the other batter you give responsibility to, that’s Yashasvi Jaiswal. It’s not that he tried to hit in the air and got out. He went to play a normal cover drive, which he usually plays very well, and got out in that. He was set up with the previous ball as the ball came in a lot. The way he played, he was totally surprised. Yashasvi Jaiswal wasn’t expecting that ball. After that, when he got width, which he likes, he moved his feet hesitantly. So I thought he got double-minded and got out,” he concluded.
