Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan should be India’s openers in the T20I format, in the built-up to the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. Team India lost to England in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Following their exit, the team has undergone several changes, with youngsters being given an opportunity.
Prithvi Shaw has been in great form in domestic cricket recently. He has been rewarded with a call-up to India’s T20 for the series against New Zealand. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan has been a part of India’s setup for a while. He opened the innings in the recently concluded T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir expressed that Ishan Kishan and Prithvi Shaw should be India’s openers. He also added that Shubman Gill needs to focus on ODI and Test matches. Gambhir said,
“He (Prithvi Shaw) shouldn’t have been out anyway as whenever he has got an opportunity, he has given India that kind of an explosive start. He is the right guy. Shaw, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav perfectly fit the template India keeps talking about. Shubman Gill needs to concentrate on Test and ODI cricket. Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan should be your permanent openers in T20Is.”
Don’t judge Prithvi Shaw by every series: Gautam Gambhir
Prithvi Shaw hasn’t been given many opportunities by Team India at the international level across formats. He has only played one T20I for the country, and couldn’t get another chance. Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has expressed that the team should persist with Prithvi Shaw, giving him a long run.
“Now that you have picked Shaw, persist with him. Don’t judge him by every series. He is young, he is explosive and he is a match-winner. So pick him in the playing XI and give him a long run.”
India’s T20I squad against New Zealand: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar.
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