ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Shubman Gill kicked out as Irfan Pathan names India's top 3 for T20 WC

Irfan Pathan has made his prediction about the Indian team's top 3 batters in the order for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies. The former India all-rounder took to his official X handle to suggest his idea of having Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opening pair and Virat Kohli as the number 3 batter in the team. Pathan also gave some solid reasons as to why he chose Rohit, Jaiswal, and Kohli as India's front three. 

After the conclusion of IPL 2024 on May 26 and from June onwards, the Indian team under Rohit Sharma's captaincy will begin their T20 World Cup campaign. It will be the Men in Blue's 3rd attempt, in less than one year, of trying to quench their thirst for a major ICC silverware for the first time since 2013. MS Dhoni's team India remained as the last team from the country to get their hands on an ICC trophy when they defeated hosts England in that year's Champions Trophy. 

Pathan locks in Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as India's openers 

Irfan Pathan reasoned that Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, should be appearing in his usual position as he is going to be very lethal, given the fact that he is in great form. Rohit has already scored more than half of what he had scored in 2023, which proved to be his last season captaining the Mumbai Indians. The 36-year-old has scored 303 runs at a strike rate of 162.90 including a century with no half-centuries. 

"Now that World Cup is nearing. My top 3 for team India. 1) Rohit Sharma (in form as well as captain)," Pathan wrote on X. 

He hit his form at the very right time and now he will only aim to continue doing the same. As for Yashasvi Jaiswal, Irfan Pathan claimed that he has been saying for a long time that the 22-year-old should pair with Rohit Sharma in the opening position at the T20 World Cup. Pathan mentioned that he was not saying it because Jaiswal scored a hundred against MI last night but actually because of his performances in national colors.

"2) Yashasvi Jaiswal (been saying that he should be there even before his 100 purely cos he was performing well for team India before the ipl),"Pathan added. 

Since making his debut for last year in July, Jaiswal has become a major revelation and his most recent performance for India came during the home 5-match Test series against England. Therein, he had ended up as the highest scorer of the series with 712 runs from 9 innings, including 2 double centuries and 3 half-centuries. 

Irfan Pathan claims Virat Kohli's spot in the team cannot be questioned 

Lastly, Irfan Pathan claimed that Virat Kohli's spot on the team should not be questioned as he has a T20I strike rate of 138, which is better than Chris Gayle's and also highlighted the Indian stalwart's average and strike rate this season. 

"3) Virat Kohli. (Shouldn’t be any question regarding his place or strike rate. His strike rate at the T20I is 138 + Better than Chris Gayle+ 51 avg. N his ipl strike rate this season is 150)," Irfan Pathan concluded. 

Now that World Cup is nearing. My top 3 for team India.

1) Rohit Sharma (in form as well as captain)

2) Yashasvi Jaiswal (been saying that he should be there even before his 100 purely cos he was performing well for team India before the ipl)

3) Virat Kohli. (Shouldn’t be…

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 23, 2024