Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has backed Yashashvi Jaiswal to make his T20I debut for India in the second T20I against West Indies which will be played in Guyana on August 6, 2023, as he feels Ishan Kishan’s form is worrisome.
India lost the first T20I in Trinidad by 4 runs chasing only 150 to win with both openers Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill falling for single-digit scores. Though Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya did well with the bat, India lost wickets at crucial junctures to lose the encounter.
Opener Kishan, who smashed three half-centuries in the preceding One Day International (ODI) series, had a forgetful outing, as he scored 6 in 9 balls.
Discussing India's possible playing XI ahead of the 2nd T20I, Wasim Jaffer opted to back Yashasvi Jaiswal to make his T20I debut on Sunday. The 21-year-old had made his Test debut against West Indies and hammered 171 runs in his maiden outing.
Thus, Jaffer feels Jaiswal should replace Kishan in the Indian playing XI for the 2nd T20I.
“I want to see Yashasvi Jaiswal. He should play as an opening batter. I want to see Jaiswal in place of Ishan Kishan. Ishan Kishan’s T20I form worries me. In the last 15 innings, he hasn’t even scored a 40, the strike rate is also too low. So, that’s a cause for concern, but he was in good form in ODIs. It’s a different format (T20I). He also had an ordinary IPL season,” Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo.
Jaiswal had earned his maiden India call-up on the back of some huge runs in domestic cricket and record 625 runs in IPL 2023 for Rajasthan Royals.
“Why not allow the boy who played very well in the IPL? He won the emerging player award and is confident. I’ll look towards that change. “The first T20I was played on a difficult pitch, so expecting them [Kishan and Shubman Gill] to play in that fashion (free-flowing mode) is too much expectation. It’s crucial to see the pitch for the second T20I. If it’s good enough, then our batters will play well,” Jaffer added.
India will also play the third T20I in Guyana on August 8, while the last two T20Is will be played in Florida on August 12 and 13.
