Former Indian batsman and opener Gautam Gambhir has stated that he envisions Prithvi Shaw as the opener for team India in the next Twenty20 Men’s World Cup in 2024. This, of course, is dependent on the fact that the selectors do not view experienced batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as unsatisfactory for the shortest format of cricket.
Shaw is part of India’s squad for the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill were both picked to play ahead of the Mumbai opener. Hence he did not have a chance to bat in either of the first two games.
During a discussion on the Star Sports show ‘Match Point,’ Gambhir was questioned about his opinion on why India is not playing Prithvi Shaw in the T20 format, to which he reacted as follows: “Surprised again. I think you need to give him a chance, and I think you need 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.”
“Yes, Shubman Gill has done 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,” the former Indian batsman said, affirming that Shubman Gill has flourished in one-day international cricket. However, the former batsman believes that Prithvi Shaw is better suited to the shortest format.
“You have to persist with Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan, and those guys can go out there and play with the template that we have spoken about for such a long time,” Gambhir says, expressing his confidence that Shaw and Kishan can provide the Men in Blue with the explosive starts they so desperately need. In the only T20 International that Shaw has participated into this point, he was dismissed for a golden duck.
However, Prithvi Shaw’s strike rate of 151.67 in 92 T20 matches is remarkable, and he is expecting to play in the final T20I against New Zealand on February 1. This match will take place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
