NEW DELHI: In the wake of India's convincing series win against
Afghanistan
in the second
T20 International
at Indore, former Indian opener
Aakash Chopra
has declared swashbuckling opener
Yashasvi Jaiswal
as undroppable from the Team India squad for the upcoming ICC
T20 World Cup
in the West Indies and the USA.
Jaiswal's explosive half-century played a crucial role in India's series win, prompting Chopra to assert that it would be unfair if Jaiswal is not included in the T20 World Cup squad. Speaking to JioCinema, Chopra emphasized that Jaiswal has surpassed
Shubman Gill
in the T20I pecking order.
"Yashasvi is going. Again, the way he is batting. You will feel it would be unfair if you do not take him. Sometimes you are undroppable, meaning he is selectable. That is why he is here, making runs. Now he has gone beyond (Shubman) Gill. But now you will not be able to touch him," said Chopra.
Chopra warned against making the mistake of not selecting Jaiswal, stating that it could lead to a slow start for India in the T20 World Cup. He emphasized the importance of having a dynamic batsman like Jaiswal in the squad.
"You should not even try for it (not selecting Jaiswal) because you need something like this while batting. Otherwise, it will be the same as 2022; again and again, everything will be the same, the style of playing will be the same and only the year has changed," Chopra cautioned.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been in remarkable form in T20Is, amassing 498 runs in 16 matches at an average of 35.57 and a striking rate of 163.81. Chopra highlighted Jaiswal's impactful contributions, especially in matches India has won, showcasing his ability as a match-winner.
Jaiswal's stellar performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, where he was the Rajasthan Royals' top run-scorer, further solidified his claim for a spot in the national side.
India's comprehensive six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second T20I was marked by Jaiswal's explosive batting, and he, along with Shivam Dube, played a pivotal role in securing the series win. With one game left in the series, India has already clinched victory with a 2-0 lead. Axar Patel was named the 'Player of the Match' for his bowling spell in the contest.
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(With inputs from ANI)
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