With 2024 being a T20 World Cup year, the Indian cricket team is looking to finalise their squad for the quadrennial event. Shubman Gill has been out of form lately and taking his role for the team, is Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal, who had missed the series’ opening match due to a minor injury, made a strong comeback in Indore. He, along with Shivam Dube, played pivotal roles by scoring half-centuries as India successfully chased down the target with 6 wickets and 26 balls to spare. Chopra’s statement suggests that Jaiswal’s performance has elevated him in the T20I hierarchy when compared to Shubman Gill.
According to former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra, Yashasvi Jaiswal has surpassed Shubman Gill in India’s T20 International (T20I) lineup. In the recent T20I match against Afghanistan at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, India secured a 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a 6-wicket victory.
In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra emphasized that Yashasvi Jaiswal has surpassed Shubman Gill in India’s T20 International (T20I) squad. Chopra expressed the view that it would be unjust not to include Jaiswal in the T20 World Cup squad. Jaiswal’s outstanding performance in the match included scoring 68 runs off 34 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and six maximums. This strong showing has apparently strengthened Chopra’s belief in Jaiswal’s potential and impact in the T20I format, advocating for his inclusion in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“Yashasvi is going. Again, the way he is batting. You will feel it would be unfair if you do not take him. Sometimes you are undroppable, meaning he is selectable. That is why he is here, making runs. Now he has gone beyond (Shubman) Gill. But now you will not be able to touch him,” said Chopra.
Yashasvi Jaiswal leads the way with a classy fifty 💥
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Aakash Chopra further commented that if India chooses not to include Yashasvi Jaiswal in the T20 World Cup, it could lead to a situation similar to the 2022 T20 World Cup. He highlighted the disappointing outcome in 2022, where India faced a significant defeat at the hands of England in the semi-final, losing by 10 wickets. England went on to win the tournament. Chopra’s implication is that Jaiswal’s exclusion, if it were to happen, might result in a missed opportunity for India, similar to the setbacks faced in the previous T20 World Cup.
“You should not even try for it (not selecting Jaiswal) because you need something like this while batting. Otherwise, it will be the same as 2022; again and again, everything will be the same, the style of playing will be the same and only the year has changed,” Chopra added.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has had a remarkable beginning to his career with the Indian national team, securing a place in both the Test and T20 International (T20I) squads. In the Test format, he has accumulated 316 runs in four matches at an impressive average of 45.14. In T20Is, Jaiswal has showcased his prowess by amassing 498 runs in 16 matches, maintaining an average of 35.57. Additionally, his strike rate in T20Is is an impressive 163.81, indicating his ability to score quickly and make a significant impact in the shortest format of the game. Jaiswal’s consistent and impactful performances have contributed to his growing reputation in Indian cricket.
