Richard Kettleborough, umpire of the 2024 T20 World Cup India vs Afghanistan Super 8 clash and one of the elite panel umpires for the tournament, recently in a social media post discussed some of the changes he would like to see in Team India’s batting lineup. Kettleborough might not be involved in team selection, but his insights are valuable.
Opening Pair: Yashasvi Jaiswal or Sanju Samson with Rohit Sharma
Kettleborough wants to see Jaiswal or Samson to open with Rohit Sharma instead of Virat Kohli Whose ideal position is at number 3. Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson have shown promise in domestic and IPL cricket. Jaiswal is a young left-handed opener with a solid technique, while Samson is an explosive right-hander.
Experimenting with either of them alongside Rohit Sharma could provide a fresh dynamic at the top of the order. Their aggressive approach might complement Rohit’s stability.
Virat Kohli at No. 3
Virat Kohli is India’s premier batsman, and he has a phenomenal record at the No. 3 position in limited-overs cricket. Virat Kohli has played in that position for most of his career and a sudden change of position seems confusing to Kettleborough. His consistency and ability to rotate strike would be crucial at the middle overs.
Benching Shivam Dube vs Canada
Shivam Dube is a hard-hitting all-rounder, but his performances have been inconsistent. Against Canada, India could give Yashasvi Jaiswal or Sanju Samson a chance to prove themselves. It’s an opportunity to assess their adaptability and form at the international level.
India's Playing XI need some changes before Super 8 :
– Bring Yashasvi Jaiswal OR Sanju Samson as an opener with Rohit Sharma
– Virat Kohli should bat at No.3
– Bench Shivam Dube vs Canada (Just to see how Yashasvi or Samson plays)What's your take on this 🤔 #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/oTHC23WHph
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) June 13, 2024
Is Richard Kettleborough a Curse For India?
Richard Kettleborough has been on the field for eight out of ten vital ICC tournament games that India lost. These include the 2014 T20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka and the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup final against Australia. In the latter, a close LBW decision went against India, favoring Marnus Labuschagne. Had that partnership been broken earlier, India might have turned the tide. The crowd even booed Kettleborough during the medal presentation—a testament to their frustration.
Kettleborough’s presence looms large in India’s semifinal defeats as well. In the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, India stumbled against Australia and New Zealand, respectively, with him officiating. The English umpire has become a jinx that Rohit Sharma’s team is desperate to break.
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