Vaughan Advocates for Jaiswal at the Top
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed his desire to see young Indian batter Yashasvi Jaiswal open the innings during the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup2024. Vaughan believes that Jaiswal’s inclusion at the top of the order could provide the team with a stronger start. During India’s three group games in New York, Virat Kohli opened with captain Rohit Sharma but struggled to find form, scoring just 1, 4, and 0 against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA respectively.
Kohli’s Form and Role Adjustment
Kohli’s dry run has led to discussions about changing his role in the team. Vaughan suggests that Kohli should return to his usual No. 3 position, allowing Jaiswal to partner with Rohit Sharma at the top. This adjustment could potentially stabilize India’s top order and provide a more balanced lineup.
Rishabh Pant’s Position
In addition to advocating for Jaiswal at the top, Vaughan also wants Rishabh Pant to bat at No. 5 during the Super 8 matches, which will be played in the Caribbean. Pant, who batted ahead of Suryakumar Yadav in the group stage, could bring more flexibility and firepower to the middle order.
“I love Yashasvi Jaiswal, I’d want him to be opening the batting. Virat or Rohit at No. 3, I’m not too bothered by which right-hander goes to No. 3. Shivam Dube is at No. 5, but in the Caribbean, I’d have Rishabh Pant in there. Yashasvi is an incredible player. He is such a good batter, I would want him in,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.
Emphasizing Left-Handers in the Lineup
Vaughan pointed out that India has previously made the mistake of not including enough left-handers in their lineup. He appreciates the current strategy of incorporating more left-handers and sees Jaiswal’s inclusion as a continuation of this positive trend.
“I like the fact that they have gone with left-handers. I thought not having enough left-handers was a mistake from India in the past, so I can kind of understand that, but I would want Jaiswal in my team,” Vaughan emphasized.
India’s Performance in Group Stage
India’s final group match against Canada was washed out in Florida, but they still head into the Super 8s with 7 points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +1.137, finishing at the top of Group A. The USA secured the second spot in the Super 8 after their match against Ireland was also washed out.
India’s Squad for Super 8
The Indian squad for the Super 8 stage remains strong, with a mix of experienced players and young talents. The team includes:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Shivam Dube
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Siraj
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Sanju Samson
- Yuzvendra Chahal
As India prepares for the Super 8 stage, the potential inclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order, as suggested by Michael Vaughan, could be a game-changer. With key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant in the mix, India aims to maintain their strong performance and advance further in the T20 World Cup2024. The upcoming matches in the Caribbean will be crucial, and the team’s strategy and player roles will play a significant role in their success.
