Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer feels captain Rohit Sharma should open the innings alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad in the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka. The series opener is scheduled to take place on February 24 in Lucknow.
Meanwhile, it was Gaikwad who paired with Ishan Kishan in the last T20I against West Indies in Kolkata. Both of them had a dismal outing in that game failing to give India a good start.
However, Wasim Jaffer backed Ruturaj Gaikwad to continue opening for India against Sri Lanka considering he played only one game in the last series. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Jaffer said:
“I feel Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad should open in this series especially because India tried out Ishan Kishan last time and he did not have a good series.”
He added:
“It’s time India gives Ruturaj a lengthy run, like three games or two games at least. So, I think Rohit and Ruturaj should open in a couple of games at least.”
Wasim Jaffer further backed young Ravi Bishnoi to partner with Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department. Jadeja, who missed the last couple of series due to injury, has returned to the side.
“Ravindra Jadeja obviously plays. He comes into the side, so he is one of the spinners. It will be a toss-up between Chahal and Bishnoi. At this point in time, I would like to see how Bishnoi performs, so I would give him a go at the start because Chahal is a seasoned player, so he is not somebody who is at test,” Jaffer continued.
“You need to test a guy like Bishnoi and see how he performs because I expect the Sri Lanka players to play spin better. It would be a good challenge to see how he performs in this series,” he added.