deadline for announcing the provisional squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA is fast approaching and the Indian think tank has some tough decisions to make before finalising India’s 15-member squad. While few media reports have claimed that India will go ahead with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the openers for the T20 World Cup 2024, we are still not certain whether that will be the case. But will that be the best-case scenario for India going into the World Cup?
Based on current form you would argue in favour of India’s two best white-ball players combining up top could be the way forward. That essentially opens up the middle order and India can have the luxury of Suryakumar Yadav batting at No.3, Rishabh Pant at No.4, Hardik Pandya at No.5, and two finishers in No.s 6 and 7 before the tail starts.
However, if that is the case, young players – who have regularly featured in India’s T20I scheme of things – will feel hard done by, namely: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and more importantly Ishan Kishan. In the list of openers missing out, you could also add the name of KL Rahul.
But such is the fickle nature of batting forms and the complexities of selecting one of the most competitive cricket teams in the world that there are bound to be some heartbreaks. However, the question to ask is, does the Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli combo up top make sense?
First and foremost, the recent form of both batters is better than the other contenders we listed earlier. Kohli is opening the innings for his franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season, similar to what he did the previous year as well, and currently leads the Orange Cap list for most runs in IPL 2024 with 361 runs striking at 147.34. How can you not play him as an opener if he is picked in India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup?
Over to Rohit Sharma now and he is currently sitting at the 3rd spot with 297 runs in 7 matches striking at 164.08, including a hundred to his name. By the way, Kohli too has registered a hundred this season. Going by these individual numbers there is hardly any argument you can make against the Kohli-Sharma duo opening for India at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Giving chances to youngsters could be one of those arguments, You can take that ahead and say, ‘Well it is time youngsters are given the opportunity on the big stage. They are primed to be in their spotlight now.’ But, then again how have their forms been recently? Let’s take a look.
Shubman Gill Going Strong
Gujarat Skipper Shubman Gill has been solid at the top of the order for his franchise scoring 263 runs in 7 matches striking at 151.14 and makes a very strong case to be part of the final 15 and he could very well make it as the backup opener to both Kohli and Sharma. He is currently 6th in the Orange Cap list in IPL 2024.
Moving on to Ishhan Kishan and Yashaswi Jaiswal, and both have been struggling with the bat this season. While Kishan took time away from cricket for a while, Jaiswal was coming into IPL 2024 on the high of a record-setting India vs England Test series. Ishan did show flashes of his brilliance but consistency has been an issue. In seven matches he has managed 192 runs at 172.97 and is currently 21st in the Orange Cap list in IPL 2024. Jaiswal is 40th with 121 runs in seven matches, striking at 145.78.
There is no doubt that we should not judge these two purely based on the numbers alone, but then again recency bias plays its part ahead of big selection debates like the T20 World Cup. Even if we think Ishan Kishan can make it as a backup opener, because he is a wicketkeeper, even on that front Sanju Samson as a middle-order batter makes more sense to be a backup to first-choice keeper Rishabh Pant, considering we are speculating Gill will be the reserve opener. Samson in seven matches has 276 runs, striking at 155.05, and is 5th in the Orange Cap List.
Another interesting name is India’s vice-captain at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia – KL Rahul. He has had some injury concerns and leading Lucknow Super Giants, Rahul has not made head turns with his performances so far. He has 204 runs in 6 matches, striking at 138.77 and frankly finds himself far removed from the conversation of players likely to make the cut for the World Cup.
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