Jaiswal played the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home but was not included in the squad for the subsequent tour to England. But the left-hander has again been drafted into the 15 for the ODIs against the West Indies, beginning on Sunday.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Saturday hinted that India’s first-choice opening pair will be Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, but said that should not be viewed as an “unfair” treatment of Yashasvi Jaiswal, urging him to keep on working hard on his game.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Saturday hinted that India’s first-choice opening pair will be Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in ODI cricket.
“I think there is so much competition (for team spots) and so many players are performing. Jaiswal…we all know he is one of the best batters and whenever he gets an opportunity he performs. The experience in the dressing room, Kotak felt that, helps the team in building towards the World Cup in a more meaningful way. “Jadeja is an outstanding bowler. We all know his records and I mean how the team will set up and what kind of a combination selectors and captain and head coach will go with, that is the second thing. But Jadeja is one of the best fielders on a world level. The experience he has…I actually firmly believe that experience is something you cannot beat. So, like we see Rohit and Virat, we see Jadeja, they bring a lot to the team,” Kotak explained.
The ambition of Rohit and Kohli to play in the 2027 World Cup is also carrying Jaiswal forward, and Kotak sees a lot of value in their presence in the dressing room on the road to South Africa.
So he is part of the team,” Kotak told reporters on the eve of the first ODI. Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been brought back into the white ball squad after a gap of eight months, and Kotak said the spinner is very much in the scheme of things for the big event. Kotak said skipper Shubman Gill, who was pinged on his right elbow by Mohammed Siraj while training, is fit to play Sunday’s match.
