The Indian Cricket Team kicks off their campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland on Thursday. The one burning question is – who will be Rohit Sharma’s opening partner? Will it be Virat Kohli, who is fresh of a fine form in the IPL? Will it be the young Yashasvi Jaiswal – the future superstar of Indian cricket?
Indian Captain, Rohit Sharma is a certainty to open for Team India. The hunt is on for his partner. While the two realistic candidates for that spot are Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal, it remains to be seen who walks out with Rohit on Wednesday at the Nassau County ground in New York.
Former Indian batter and legend, Sunil Gavaskar backs Kohli over Jaiswal for the opening slot. If that happens, it would be interesting to see whether Jaiswal finds a spot in the XI or not.
“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to open the batting along with Yashasvi Jaiswal at three”, Gavaskar said on Star Sports while giving his preferred line-up for the game.
The empty position for the 2nd opening batter has sparked a debate of stature vs talent. Kohli is someone who has played in the middle-order for the most part of his career. Yashasvi Jaiswal on the other hand is a natural opener, and has opened with Rohit in the build up to this World Cup.
Yes, Virat Kohli has had a fantastic IPL, and in comparison Jaiswal had a subdued season. If that’s the case, then the IPL should be the benchmark for players and also decide their roles for the national duty.
Virat Kohli as an Opener:
In the IPL, Virat Kohli has played 113 games as an opener, accumulating a total of 4352 runs at an average of 45.81. In international T20 games, he has played 9 matches as an opener, scoring 400 runs with an average of 57.14.
Yashasvi Jaiswal as an Opener:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the other hand, has featured in 53 IPL games as an opener, scoring 1607 runs averaging 32.14. In international T20 games, he has played 17 games so far as an opener, scoring 502 runs with an average of 33.46.
| WHO IS A BETTER OPENER? | ||||||
| PLAYER | IPL GAMES | IPL RUNS | IPL AVG | INT’L GAMES | INT’L RUNS | INT’L AVG |
| Virat Kohli | 113 | 4352 | 45.81 | 9 | 400 | 57.14 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 53 | 1607 | 32.14 | 17 | 502 | 33.46 |
Statistically, Virat Kohli is a better opening option for the Indian Cricket Team in T20I’s however Yashasvi Jaiswal brings in destructiveness that is required and favoured in a T20 game.
Virat brings in his experience of featuring in 5 editions of ICC Men’s T20 World Cups whereas on the flip side the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is Yashasvi’s very first ICC T20 World Cup as well as ICC tournament outing.
Yashasvi Jaiswal might be low on experience, however his ability to adapt to the situations quickly can’t be ignored.
With the experts and fans having their opinions divided, it would be interesting to see who would be Team India’s first choice opener and in which position will the other person bat during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The odds are heavily stacked in Virat Kohli’s favour. Don’t be surprised if you see the veteran walking out with the Hitman on Thursday. Poor Yashasvi, he has done nothing wrong, but has to probably watch the match from the sidelines.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
