IND vs AFG: Not Shubman Gill! Kiran More Picks Rohit Sharma's Opening Partner In T20Is

Former India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batter Kiran More has picked the opening partner of skipper Rohit Sharma for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team.

Rohit Sharma is set to be seen in action in T20I cricket for India National Cricket Team for the first time since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia when he participates in the upcoming Afghanistan T20Is.

He along with plenty of senior players was sidelined from T20Is after the loss to the England National Cricket Team in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 and the selection committee gave opportunities to the youngsters.

However, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 a few months away, the selection committee has recalled Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the T20I setup and they will be playing against the Ibrahim Zadran-led side in a three-match T20I series. The matches are set to be held on January 11, 14 and 17.

India have as many as four opening options available for the short T20I series against Afghanistan with only Rohit Sharma being the sure-shot selection. The other options are Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kohli is most likely to bat in his usual No.3 position, which means the battle will be between Jaiswal and Gill to partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order

Ahead of the series, former India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batter Kiran More has named his pick and he doesn’t want Shubman Gill to join Rohit Sharma as opener.

Yashasvi Jaiswal for me because… – Kiran More on Rohit Sharma’s opening partner

During a discussion on Sports 18, More said that he wants to see Yashasvi Jaiswal open the innings for India in T20Is with Rohit Sharma as it will give the side a left-right combination. Kiran More showered rich praise on the left-handed opening batsman, saying that Yashasvi Jaiswal has been exceptional and plays an aggressive brand of cricket from ball one.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal for me because it’s a left-right combination. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s performances have been exceptional. He shows aggression and talks about fours and sixes from the first ball,” he stated.

The former India player added that Gill is also a good player but the left-right opening combination would be better for India in T20I cricket.

“I think Shubman Gill is definitely a good player but I will go with a left and right-handed batting combination in the T20 format. I will go with Yashasvi for sure,” he added.

Further picking the players to watch out for in the three-match IND vs AFG T20I series, More elaborated:

“Rinku and Tilak both because Tilak Varma is a good player. He is a 360-degree player and Tilak Varma bats the same way that Rinku does. I believe we need to think a little about the future and take both Tilak and Rinku along.”

Kiran More was also asked to name his choice between Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, and Avesh Khan to partner Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as India’s third seam-bowling option in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The cricketer-turned-commentator went with Arshdeep Singh due to him being a left-arm pacer. He explained:

“Arshdeep brings a good variety. He is a left-armer and bowled exceptionally well in the last series. He will keep learning as he keeps playing more matches. I believe left-arm fast bowlers make a huge difference because they create a different angle.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is scheduled to be played from June 1 to June 29 in the USA and the West Indies.