Yashasvi Jaiswal Faces Competition for T20I Opener Spot, Says Former Indian Fielding Coach R Sridhar

Former Indian fielding coach R Sridhar has expressed his views on the current competition for India’s opening spots in T20 Internationals, suggesting that young talent Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn’t yet solidified his position at the top of the order in the shortest format. 

While Jaiswal has shown promise with impressive performances in Test matches and the IPL, Sridhar believes that players like Abhishek Sharma and Sai Sudharsan present significant competition for the opening slots.

With veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli having retired from T20Is, India is in the process of building a new opening combination for the format. During the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, and Shubman Gill have all featured as potential candidates to fill the void left by Sharma and Kohli.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Sridhar shared his thoughts on Jaiswal’s current standing and the competition he faces: 

“I think he has got a lot of competition. He has Sai Sudharsan breathing down his neck. He has got Abhishek Sharma on his neck. But Yashasvi has done well in Test matches; against England, we saw him score a hundred and then followed it up with a double hundred. He has got the appetite for the big innings. He can play T20 cricket as he has shown in the IPL and the recent Zimbabwe series.”

Yashasvi Jaiswal has impressed in Test cricket with a century and a double century against England, showing his ability to build big innings. In the IPL and recent series against Zimbabwe, he demonstrated his capability in T20 cricket, but Sridhar suggests that Jaiswal must continue to perform consistently to secure his spot as an opener.

Abhishek Sharma has been a promising player in domestic cricket and the IPL, known for his aggressive batting style and versatility. His performances have kept him in contention for a spot in the T20I squad, especially as India looks to solidify its opening combination. Recently, Abhishek scored a T20I century as well after being handed his debut.

Sai Sudharsan, another young talent, has also been making waves with his performances in the IPL, where he has shown the ability to handle pressure and score runs quickly. Sudharsan’s rise adds to the competitive environment for the opening spots in India’s T20I team.

R Sridhar has no doubts about Shubman Gill’s place in the team, emphasizing his versatility and leadership potential. Sridhar sees Gill as a crucial player across all formats and a future captain for India once Rohit Sharma retires.

“Shubman Gill for me is an all-format player, and I think he would be the apprentice to captain Rohit Sharma in Test matches and ODIs. I am sure India will see him as the captain post-2027 World Cup in all formats,” Sridhar remarked.

Gill recently captained India in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, leading the team to a 4-1 series victory. His performance as captain showed his sharp mind and ability to lead, further solidifying his role as a key figure in India’s cricketing future.