Prithvi Shaw best bet to open in 2024 T20 World Cup if India look beyond Kohli, Rohit: Gautam Gambhir
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes Prithvi Shaw can be India's first-choice opener for the T20 World Cup next year if he is given a long rope to prove his worth.News
- Gautam Gambhir feels Prithvi Shaw can open the batting for India in T20 World Cup 2024
- Gambhir wants India to give Shaw a long rope in T20Is
- Shaw is currently part of India's squad for the T20I series against New Zealand but is yet to get a game
Former India batter Gautam Gambhir believes Prithvi Shaw can be India’s first-choice opener in the T20 World Cup next year if the selectors are willing to look beyond seniors Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Rohit currently remains India’s designated captain in T20Is while Kohli too remains in the scheme of things, but there have been clear indications that the selectors and the team management are looking to move on from the superstar duo as far as the shortest format is concerned.
Kohli and Rohit have not featured in any T20I game for India since the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia last year with Hardik Pandya leading a team of young guns. In the duo’s absence, the likes of Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi among others have been featuring regularly in the top three in T20Is.
However, Gambhir has backed Shaw to take Rohit’s opening slot in the shortest format and urged the team management to give him a longer run. Shaw was recalled in India’s T20I squad for the ongoing series against New Zealand after impressing in the domestic circuit where he was churning out runs consistently for Mumbai.
The 23-year-old, however, is yet to get an opportunity in the series after the first two T20Is with Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill getting the nod over him. But both Gill and Kishan have failed to impress so far, having amassed only 46 runs combined in the first two matches. Amid the duo’s failure, Gambhir has expressed his shock over Shaw not being picked in the XI.
“Surprised again (Shaw not playing in first two T20Is vs New Zealand). I feel you have got to give him an opportunity and you have to give him a longer rope, especially in the T20 format, because I see him opening the batting in 2024 if the selectors have started to look beyond Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
Ahead of the start of the series, India skipper Hardik Pandya had said the team management will back Kishan and Gill as the first-choice openers. However, Shaw breathing down the neck amid the duo’s inconsistent run has made it difficult for India to ignore him.
The right-hander had scored 332 runs in 10 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament last year and was in terrific form in the Ranji Trophy before being recalled in the Indian team for the New Zealand series. However, he currently finds himself behind Gill and Kishan in the pecking order.
While Gambhir feels Kishan should be persisted with despite the current dip in his form, he said Gill’s game is more suited for ODIs. The former India opener wants India to give a long rope to Shaw and Kishan as openers as the two explosive batters can play the attacking brand of cricket that India want to play in the shortest format.
“You have to persist with Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan, and those guys can actually go out there and play with the template that we have spoken about for such a long time. Yes, Shubman Gill has done really well in the 50-over format, but if there is one player in this squad for whom T20 comes very naturally, it’s Prithvi Shaw and that’s his game,” said Gambhir.
Shaw is expected to feature in the playing XI as India lock horns with New Zealand in the series-deciding third T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
