Former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has lauded new phenom Yashasvi Jaiswal as the key to India’s success in T20Is.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has stormed into international cricket after a fantastic last two to three years on the regional circuit. Jaiswal has supplied Team India with scorching beginnings in the shortest format, attacking in a Virender Sehwag-esque fashion from the outset.
Manjrekar told Star Sports that Yashasvi Jaiswal might recreate what Rohit Sharma accomplished for India at the 2023 ODI World Cup in T20Is.
“India can field another T20I team that can compete against other international teams and that’s basically what IPL has done. If India is looking to reinvent their approach, Yashasvi Jaiswal could be the man for India. He can do what Rohit Sharma did in the ODI World Cup 2023 for India.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
Unfortunately, Yashasvi Jaiswal was unable to demonstrate his abilities to the South African crowd, as the first T20I in Durban was canceled owing to heavy rain.
In 13 T20Is, the 21-year-old averages 33.63 with a strike rate of 163.71, including a century and two half-centuries.
“He has the freshness of not being tied down by experience” – Sunil Gavaskar on Yashasvi Jaiswal batting
Sunil Gavaskar, another Indian veteran, mirrored Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments and commended Yashasvi Jaiswal for his free-flowing and aggressive batting in T20Is.
The 21-year-old enjoyed his breakout season this year, despite shown potential in earlier IPLs. At 48.08 average and 163.61 strike rate, the southpaw scored 625 runs.
Jaiswal’s century off 49 deliveries in the quarter-final against Nepal helped India win the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
During the West Indian trip, he also made his Test debut, scoring a stunning 171 in his first innings.
“The way he started off against Jofra Archer in the IPL was impressive. He is a very very good talent. Jaiswal brings the left-handedness as well in the top order. He has the freshness of not being tied down by experience. He sees the ball and hits the ball. Jaiswal is an all-format prospect for India,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
Sunil Gavaskar
Jaiswal struck at a pace of more than 146 during India’s recent 4-1 T20I series victory against Australia.
On December 12, when India plays South Africa in the second Twenty20 International in Gqeberha, the southpaw is probably going to be active.
The Men in Blue’s all-format South African tour will include three ODIs and two Tests after the T20I series.