With the highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 just around the corner, former Indian coach Ravi Shastri has identified two rising stars who could be crucial for India’s title aspirations. As the Rohit Sharma-led team gears up for their campaign opener against Ireland on June 5th, Shastri has highlighted the potential of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and the resurgent all-rounder Shivam Dube.
“The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for, and both are left-handers, both playing their first World Cup,” Shastri told the ICC. Highlighting Jaiswal’s talent, Shastri remarked, “One is (Yashasvi) Jaiswal. We know a lot about him, he did extremely well against England, explosive at the top of the order, left-hander, he’s young, he’s fearless and he’ll play shots.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal, at 22, has already impressed in his young international career, amassing 502 runs in 17 T20Is with a remarkable strike rate of 161.93. Notably, he possesses a hunger for big scores, evident in his century and four fifties. Currently showcasing his talent for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, Jaiswal is primed to make a significant mark on the global stage.
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Shastri’s second pick, Shivam Dube, has earned praise for his recent performances with the defending IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings. “But there’s someone in the middle order, please watch out for [him], because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner,” Ravi Shastri emphasized.
Dube’s power-hitting prowess particularly excites Shastri. “He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you,” he said, envisioning monstrous sixes disappearing into the small islands surrounding Long Island. “He hits it big, he hits it long, and like I said, against spin, he could kill you,” Ravi Shastri reiterated.
While Dube’s dominance against spin bowling is undeniable, past concerns regarding his technique against pacers have surfaced. However, Shastri assures fans that Dube has addressed these doubts.
“Even against the fast bowlers, he’s worked out his game, he’s understood the way to play and I think he holds the key at that number five, number six position because if you’re on the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to,” Ravi Shastri explained.
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Shastri believes Dube’s high strike rate, “close to 200 most of the time,” will be a valuable asset for India. “His strike rate… will help India immensely in going forward, getting those 190s, 200s that are needed in big competitions, especially like the (T20) World Cup.”
With Jaiswal’s fearless batting at the top and Dube’s explosive power in the middle order, India possesses a potent threat as they chase T20 World Cup glory. Cricket fans worldwide will be eager to witness if these young stars can live up to Shastri’s high praise and propel India to the coveted title.
