Gautam Gambhir believes that Rohit Sharma’s time as an opener in T20I cricket is up, and now the Indian cricket team must give Prithvi Shaw a longer run in the shorter format of the game after the young opener was recalled to the side for the New Zealand series at home.
The former Indian opener suggested India to make Ishan Kishan and Shaw their permanent openers in T20I cricket while urging the team management not to judge the returning opener on the basis of every series and give the ‘match-winner’ regular opportunities in the playing XI.
Notably, Shaw broke into the Team India squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against New Zealand for the first time since the tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021, on the back of his stellar performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and stunning form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy in 2022–23.
Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports: “He shouldn’t have been out anyway as whenever he has got an opportunity, he has given India that kind of an explosive start. He is the right guy. He, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav perfectly fit the template India keep talking about.”
He continued, “Now that you have picked Shaw, persist with him. Don’t judge him by every series. He is young, he is explosive and he is a match-winner. So, pick him in the playing XI and give him a longer run.”
Gambhir also said that Shubman Gill should focus more on Test and ODI cricket instead of T20Is. He signed off by saying, “Shubman Gill needs to concentrate on Test and ODI cricket. Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan should be your permanent openers in T20Is.”
