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Mohammad Kaif has picked his playing XI for the India National Cricket Team for the three-match ODI series opener against the West Indies National Cricket Team, with the match set to be played on Sunday, September 27, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, providing a surprise role for Yashasvi Jaiswal.
India will have to manage their squad carefully as some key players are away for the Asian Games 2026. With the T20I captain Shreyas Iyer unavailable for the ODI series, Kaif has suggested a different batting order that could give Yashasvi Jaiswal valuable time in the middle order. Earlier, Kaif makes massive claim on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s World Cup future.
Mohammad Kaif picks India XI for 1st ODI vs WI
Mohammad Kaif feels Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma should open the innings, with Virat Kohli coming in at No. 3. He wants Yashasvi Jaiswal to bat at No. 4 instead of his usual opening role.
Ruturaj Gaikwad can follow at No. 5, while KL Rahul could bat at No. 6. Ravindra Jadeja is Kaif’s choice at No. 7, followed by Nitish Kumar Reddy and Kuldeep Yadav. Kaif then picked two fast bowlers to complete the playing XI. However, the cricket pandit has not picked his pace attack, so it could be either Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, or Auqib Nabi.
Mohammad Kaif said in a video posted on his YouTube channel, "I think you can play Yashasvi Jaiswal at No. 4 in this series. After Rohit goes, he will open anyway. You can shuffle in white-ball. Rohit and Gill can open, and Virat at three and Jaiswal at four, as there is no Shreyas. Gaikwad can bat at five, Rahul at six, Jadeja at seven, and then Nitish Reddy and Kuldeep Yadav, followed by the fast bowlers.”
Mohammad Kaif wants India to play Yashasvi Jaiswal at No. 4 against West Indies
The former India batter feels Yashasvi Jaiswal can be given this opportunity because he is expected to become an opener after Rohit Sharma’s retirement. He also believes Gaikwad and Jaiswal can both get important match practice during the West Indies series ahead of the New Zealand tour.
He added, "You can set both Jaiswal and Gaikwad in this series. It is always up and down in white-ball, so play Jaiswal at four. I think it should be a straightforward call, actually.”
Mohammad Kaif’s India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, and two fast bowlers. Amid this, Naman Dhir reveals first reaction after receiving Team India call-up.
Asian Games over World Cup preparations? Kaif questions India’s priorities
Mohammad Kaif has also questioned India’s decision to send a strong squad to the Asian Games 2026 while an important ODI series is taking place at the same time. Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer are among the key players unavailable for the West Indies ODIs.
The former Indian batter questioned whether winning the gold medal should be given more importance than preparing the main ODI team for the World Cup because India has only limited ODI matches left before the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Kaif signed off by saying, "I was looking at the teams for the Asian Games, and many of them have sent new players. We are not prioritizing ODIs here but looking at the Asian Games. All our main players are there."
"Other nations have sent young teams, so is winning the gold not an important thing for them? We want to win the gold while other teams are looking to groom players or not giving this so much importance?"
