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There was intense competition between Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper slot in India‘s Playing XI for quite some time. Pant’s remarkable performances across Australia, England, and South Africa elevated him to superstardom, positioning him as the successor to MS Dhoni in all formats. Meanwhile, Samson struggled with inconsistency and faced the consequences.
However, when Pant was sidelined indefinitely due to a severe car accident, casting doubt on his availability for the team, Samson saw an opportunity and seized the moment by scoring a century for India in an ODI against South Africa in January and delivering one of his best performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, amassing 504 runs with the potential for more.
As the T20 World Cup 2024 looms, the debate over who should don wicketkeeping gloves for India has reached a fever pitch. Adding weight to the discussion, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has shared his views on the matter ahead of the upcoming marquee event set to be hosted in the West Indies and USA.
Yuvraj Singh selects the wicketkeeper for India
During his conversation with the ICC, Yuvraj opted for Pant over Samson as India’s wicketkeeper-batter for the prestigious tournament. He emphasized that Pant, being a left-handed batter, possesses the capability of clinching victories for his team on significant platforms.
“I would probably go for Rishabh. Obviously, Sanju is also in great form, but Rishabh (is a) left-hander, and I believe that Rishabh has massive potential to win games for India, which he has done in the past. Lot more in Test cricket, and he’s someone who I feel can be a match-winner on the big stage,” Yuvraj told ICC.
Yuvraj advocates for a left-right batting combination in the team
The 2007 T20 World Cup-winning cricketer emphasized the advantage of left-right batting combinations, stating that they pose a greater challenge for opposing bowlers. Consequently, he advocated for the opening partnership of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal (left-handed batter), with Virat Kohli slotting in at No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4.
“I think Rohit (Sharma) and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal should definitely open. Virat (Kohli) has been batting at No.3 and that’s his position. And then, you get Surya (Yadav) at four, and then you got a couple of big options. I’d like to see a couple of left-hand, right-hand combinations because it is harder to bowl at two combinations all the time,” Yuvraj stated.
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Yuvraj expresses his delight with Yuzvendra Chahal’s inclusion in the squad
The cricketer hailing from Punjab expressed his contentment at the inclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal in the squad after being overlooked previously. Yuvraj noted that having multiple spin options in the team was a wise move. Furthermore, he voiced his strong support for India’s formidable bowling attack, which boasts standout pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.
“It was nice to see Yuzvendra Chahal in the squad, because he’s been bowling really well. And the second half of the World Cup, you might have wickets slowing down, so it’s good to keep some bowling options in spin. We have Jasprit, Siraj; we have the experience with Arshdeep as well. So looks like a really strong side, but we have to prove it,” the 42-year-old concluded.