Former India cricketer turned commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, has made a surprising omission in his ideal playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2024. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been picked in the XI to start the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma, has been left out by Manjrekar.
Sanjay Manjrekar picks Virat Kohli over Jaiswal
Manjrekar suggests that star batter Virat Kohli should be promoted up the order to open alongside Rohit Sharma, which leaves no place for Jaiswal in the team. He believes that Kohli, coming into the tournament on the back of an incredible run in the T20 World Cup where he had his second-best season finishing as the leading run-scorer of the tournament, should open to get his “full value”.
“When you look at the batting order, you can see how it pans out. Opening pair: Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. Unfortunately, there’s no place for Yashasvi Jaiswal because Virat will not bat at number three; that’s a reality we have embraced. I would have loved to have Jaiswal if there were no Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and we could go with a young opening pair. But that’s not going to happen, so Jaiswal has to sit out,” said Manjrekar on Star Sports.
Manjrekar’s decision to omit Jaiswal from his playing XI has sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts. Jaiswal, a promising young talent, has shown potential in his performances. However, Manjrekar feels that the presence of seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the opening slots leaves no room for Jaiswal.
.@sanjaymanjrekar wants #TeamIndia to pay attention to a few things during their warm-up match against Bangladesh 👀
Opening pair? Wicket-keeper? Strike bowlers? What should the Men in Blue focus on before starting their #T20WorldCup campaign? 🤔
📺 | Don't miss #BANvIND… pic.twitter.com/SZ7dWCde8G
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 1, 2024
In addition to this, Manjrekar has also suggested that India should start with Rishabh Pant as their first-choice wicketkeeper in the tournament and expose him early on. He extolled Pant and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, calling them ‘big match players’.
Manjrekar’s playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2024 includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh. This lineup reflects Manjrekar’s preference for experienced players over emerging talents for crucial tournaments like the T20 World Cup.
While Manjrekar’s playing XI has stirred up debates, it’s important to note that the final decision rests with the team management and the selectors. They will consider various factors, including current form, fitness, and team balance, before finalizing the playing XI for the T20 World Cup.
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