He looks slightly ahead to me – Aakash Chopra picks Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad for India’s T20 World Cup squad

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad for India’s T20 World Cup squad. Both the openers opened together in the recently concluded five-match T20I series against Australia, which India won by 4-1.

Gaikwad finished as the highest run-getter of the series as he amassed 223 runs in five matches at an average of 55.75 and a strike rate of 159.29.

On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 138 runs in five games at an average of 27.60 and a blistering strike rate of 168.29. Jaiswal took the attack to the opposition from the get-go whereas Gaikwad changed gears after settling at the crease.

With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill expected to come back into the T20I squad, Chopra is expecting that a left-right combination will be the given the preference.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “I am thinking about a left-right combination. I feel it has more importance in T20s because you have only six (powerplay) overs and you have to maximize them. There is no doubt you can have two right-handers, Shubman (Gill) and Rohit (Sharma) have been playing together. Rohit and Ruturaj can also play together.”

“There is no problem with that but there is an advantage with left-right. In ODIs, you have time, you can play one or two overs cautiously. You need to start in T20s like Vande Bharat Express or the Shatabdi. Then you have brighter chances to post a huge total. So Yashasvi looks slightly ahead to me.”

The renowned commentator reckons the IPL will play a major role in India’s World Cup selection but he feels Yashasvi Jaiswal will seal his spot.

“However, it (the T20 World Cup) is still six months away. You need an extremely good IPL. If that is not good, all the talk will be worthless. I personally feel Yashasvi Jaiswal.”

Chopra reckons Jaiswal is ahead of Gaikwad in the selection race because of his aggressive approach.

“Ruturaj Gaikwad – outstanding cricketer. He is part of all three formats for the South Africa tour but if I see only the T20 format, I feel Yashasvi is slightly ahead because of the way he plays.”

India will now tour South Africa for three ODIs, as many T20Is, and two Test matches. The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Kingsmead, Durban on 10th December.