Ahead of India’s Group A clash at the 2024 T20 World Cup against Canada, former fast-bowler S Sreesanth expressed his desire to see Yashasvi Jaiswal open the batting. He praised Jaiswal’s aggressive style, which he believes can put early pressure on the bowlers. The call for the left-handed Jaiswal to open alongside captain Rohit Sharma has grown louder, especially after Virat Kohli’s underwhelming performances at the top, with scores of 1, 4, and 0 in India’s first three matches on the drop-in pitches in New York.
Despite Kohli’s struggles, India’s batting has been bolstered by the impressive contributions of Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav. Pant’s scores of 36 and 42 against Ireland and Pakistan were pivotal in securing victories for India. Similarly, Suryakumar found his form at a crucial moment, scoring a vital fifty against the USA after a hesitant start to the tournament.
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Shivam Dube, often dubbed the ‘Spin Basher,’ has had a difficult run since arriving in the US. His painstaking 31 off 35 balls against the co-hosts might have earned him another opportunity, despite the looming presence of Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are waiting for their chances. For India to integrate Jaiswal, he must open the batting, which would necessitate Kohli’s return to his familiar No.3 slot.
Sreesanth elaborated on this potential strategy during the ‘Caught & Bold’ show on Disney+ Hotstar, stating, “I would love to see Yashasvi Jaiswal opening the match as it’s a T20 format. Virat Kohli coming at No. 3, Yashasvi Jaiswal will have that freedom to express himself – ‘Virat bhai aa raha hai, Virat bhai is there to play after me and Rohit can play the sheet anchor’. Nothing like Yashasvi Jaiswal opening, going after the bowling and Virat Kohli coming in and finishing the game with Rohit Sharma.”
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With three consecutive wins, India has already secured a spot in the Super Eight stage. They aim to finish at the top of Group A by defeating Canada or even if their match is abandoned due to rain at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida, on Saturday. This solid performance underscores India’s dominance and strategic flexibility heading deeper into the tournament.
