Former Indian fast bowler Mohit Sharma has urged the team management to play Yashasvi Jaiswal in the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are India’s first-choice openers in the 50-over version but at the same time it is imperative for the team to give chances to the backup opener, Jaiswal.
Jaiswal scored a fine century in his last ODI game against Afghanistan, scoring a fine knock of 110 runs off 86 balls. The left-hander has scored 285 runs in six ODI matches at an average of 71.25, including two centuries.
“If you are looking at the big picture with Yashasvi Jaiswal, then it is high time that you make space to play him. Is the captain willing to play at No.4? Then Yashasvi can open the batting. Can someone be dropped so that he can be in the playing XI? I don’t see any way apart from those, because after No.4, there is no sense of including him in the playing XI. Now how will the space be created, that is a headache. I think it is very important that we find the medicine for this because Yashasvi has been in this scenario for a while now. He has been roaming around for 2-3 years now,” Mohit Sharma said on Cricbuzz.
“He needs to be given the confidence. I don’t want anyone to be unfit, but if unfortunately, someone is unfit, have we given Yashasvi Jaiswal enough confidence to be at 100 percent when he plays? I think that is very important,” he added.
On the other hand, former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif urged the team’s think tank to back Kuldeep Yadav against the Windies. Yadav recently bagged 10-120 while playing for Yorkshire in the County Championship after he had a mundane Test match against Sri Lanka.
“Kuldeep Yadav did not play in the last ODI India played at Lord’s. We were all disappointed that a bowler like Kuldeep, who has so many wickets was not given a chance even when Bumrah was not there. So, I think he has to be backed now. Jadeja and Siraj are making their ODI comeback as well. I feel that Gurnoor Brar will get a lot of matches because he seems to be in the plans,” Mohammad Kaif said.
The first ODI between India and the West Indies will be played on 27th September.
