The three-match ODI series between India and West Indies is all set to kick-off on Sunday (September 27) at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The series will mark veteran opener Rohit Sharma’s return to competitive action after a couple of months. Having stepped away from T20Is and Tests, the 39-year-old features exclusively in the 50-over format for India.
On the eve of the series opener, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that team’s first-choice opening pair will be Rohit and Shubman Gill, while also adding the management’s decision should not be viewed as an "unfair" treatment of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who averages over 70 in ODIs with two centuries in six appearances.
Notably, Jaiswal was left out of India's 15-man squad for series against England in July despite him scoring a match-winning 110* against Afghanistan in his last ODI appearance.
Jaiswal played the Afghanistan series as a replacement for Virat Kohli, who had a hamstring injury. Once Kohli was fit again, he returned to the squad. Established openers like Rohit and Gill and retained their spots in the squad while Jaiswal faced the axe again, prompting concerns about the left-hander’s future ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
With some of India’s key ODI players currently unavailable due to the Asian Games commitments, Jaiswal has again been drafted into the lineup for the West Indies series. However, Kotak encouraged the young opener to continue working hard, with his current snub not deemed unfair due to high competition.
"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. So he is part of the team," Kotak told reporters.
"As a support staff, we look after his skills, practise and his mindset and Gautam (Gambhir) also talks to him a lot, but sometimes you see, say if (for example) there are three very good wicketkeepers, only one can play," Kotak said.
"So, it is not that somebody has been unfair to him. He should keep working hard and waiting for the opportunity and so far whenever he has been getting the opportunity, he has performed," he added.
Kotak emphasized that the presence of legendary seniors like Rohit and Kohli holds immense value for younger players like Jaiswal as the team maps its long-term vision toward the 2027 World Cup in Africa.
"See, it is all about selling experience. They always do that. Whenever I have seen all the experienced players, even Gautam because he was playing, the level they have experienced, and when they see some player is going through a similar condition or situation, they always talk to them."
"I think selling experience or selling whatever you have learnt is a great thing to do because it is getting knowledge or refreshing your knowledge as well. So, I always see them talking to senior players even when they abstain from talking to me or Morne (Morkel) or Sairaj (Bahutule). The experience in the dressing room, Kotak felt that, helps the team in building towards the World Cup in a more meaningful way."
"So what we discuss and what we try, obviously Gautam is there, Virat and Rohit obviously are there. We take everybody's advice and think about how we need to start preparing if we bat first or bowl first. For example, WC is in South Africa, so what kind of wickets we can get. So, we prepare anyway."
"So from now on, our plan is to do (planning) series by series. Luckily, we have a New Zealand series where it is outside Asia. So, there will be some different conditions - moisture, grass, all will be different."
"If we can successfully do that, within a year's time we should be ready for any challenges, any different wickets or any different bowling attacks," he said.
Ravindra Jadeja has been brought back into the ODI squad after an extended hiatus, and Kotak said the veteran all-rounder is very much in the scheme of things for the marquee event.
"He is obviously in the mix. I mean, obviously, I am not part of the selection. So, I don't know what they are thinking. I just think that whoever is coming and playing for India, they are obviously part of the 20-25 players who possibly are in the mix."
"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 batting coach also ruled out any fitness concerns regarding Shubman Gill and declared him fit for the first ODI. The Indian captain was hit on his right elbow by a delivery from Mohammed Siraj during Saturday’s practice session.
"Gill is looking good, I think he is good to go tomorrow," said Kotak.
(With Rediff Inputs)
