India should consider pairing Yashasvi Jaiswal with skipper Rohit Sharma as the opening partner in the upcoming T20 World Cup, suggested former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. He also recommended Rishabh Pant as the preferred wicketkeeper to add left-handed variety to the batting lineup. Currently, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been in sensational form as opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading the run-scoring charts with 708 runs from 14 matches.
Yuvraj Singh favored the combination of left-handed Jaiswal and right-handed Rohit at the top of the batting order, followed by Kohli. Suryakumar Yadav, currently the top-ranked T20 batter, is expected to retain his spot at number four.
Speaking to the International Cricket Council, Yuvraj stated, 'I think Rohit and Jaiswal should definitely open. Virat has been batting at number three (in T20 internationals) and that's his position. You get Surya at four and then you have a couple of big options.'
Yuvraj emphasized the importance of having left-hand, right-hand combinations to make it difficult for bowlers to settle into a rhythm. Due to this factor, he would opt for Rishabh Pant over Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper, despite both players being in excellent form in the IPL.
'I'd probably go for Rishabh,' said Yuvraj, who is also an ambassador for the T20 World Cup. 'Obviously Sanju is also in great form, but Rishabh is a left-hander, and I believe he has the potential to win games for India, which he has shown in the past.'
India's Group A campaign in the T20 World Cup begins with a match against Ireland on June 9 in New York, followed by a clash with arch-rivals Pakistan four days later.
