Wasim Jaffer, the former Indian batter believes that despite scoring just 24 runs in the first two T20Is against South Africa, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad still has a chance to book his place in India’s squad for the upcoming 2022 T20I World Cup in Australia.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is in direct battle with his opening partner for the South Africa 5-match T20I series, Ishan Kishan, for the backup opener’s spot for the mega event, but seems to be losing the race.
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 23 runs off 15 balls and strung together a 57-run partnership for the opening wicket with Ishan Kishan in the 1st T20I. The CSK opener did hit 3 sixes but none of them seemed convincing. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 23 runs off 15 balls in the first T20I between India and South Africa. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener did hit three sixes during his knock, but he was slightly fortunate to clear the boundary with a couple of those hits.
Wasim Jaffer Feels Ruturaj Gaikwad Played A Good Innings In Delhi And Should Get More Opportunities In The Future
The 25-year-old was dismissed for just one run off four balls in the second T20I at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium on Sunday. Kagiso Rabada pushed him back with a bouncer before extracting a loose drive and a simple catch to point on the next ball. This followed an awkward 23 (15) in the first match. He struggled against the short-of-good-length balls there as well before eventually mistiming one to mid-wicket.
Speaking after the match, Wasim Jaffer argued that the innings in the 1st T20I at Delhi was “very attractive” and might be enough to get him the remaining three matches of the series to stake his claim. He added that India’s lack of another opening option in the squad after KL Rahul’s sidelining will also help Ruturaj Gaikwad’s case.
Wasim Jaffer said: “No, I don’t think so. It’s just been two innings. He played a really good innings in Delhi. It wasn’t a big knock but still a very attractive one. And I see him getting opportunities in the future as well because there’s no third opener in this team. No replacement has been made [for KL Rahul]. So there’s a chance he’ll get another opportunity and if he plays a big innings, he can surely be a candidate [for India’s T20 World Cup squad].”
There were calls to bring in one of Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson and uncapped Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Rahul Tripathi, both of whom can play as openers and were brilliant at the top of the order in IPL 2022, as KL Rahul’s replacement. But apparently, the selectors didn’t find it necessary. So after conceding a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, India only has Venkatesh Iyer and Deepak Hooda as batting options on the bench.
While Deepak Hooda likes to play at No. 3 and No. 4 for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Venkatesh Iyer made his name as an opener in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder is seen by the national team as a prospect for the arduous role of a lower-order big-hitter and a much-needed competition for Hardik Pandya.
Wasim Jaffer: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Will Definitely Be Picked As India Need An Experienced Bowler Capable Of Taking Wickets With The New Ball
Meanwhile, while most players have struggled in the first two T20I matches, senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has shone in the gloom. He troubled the South African batters with accurate swing movement on Sunday in the 2nd T20I, dismissing three of the top-four for less than five runs and reducing them to 29-3 inside the powerplay.
Wasim Jaffer said: “Yes, there are no two ways about it. We’ve been seeing this [form] from the IPL. Especially with the World Cup being in Australia, India will need an experienced bowler capable of taking wickets with the new ball.”
The must-win third T20I for India will begin at 7 pm IST on Tuesday and will be played at the Dr. Y.S.R. ACA VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. After the third T20I in Vizag, the remaining two matches of the series will be played in Rajkot (June 17) and Bengaluru (June 19).