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When the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian cricket team will return ot India for a 5-match T20I series against West Indies, T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer will have to take a bold call, a call to shape the playing XI in the best possible way.
The Iyer-led India is currently in Japan for the ongoing men's cricket event in the 2026 Asian Games. Because of a clash of schedules, the selectors named two different sets of the team: one under the coaching of the full-time head coach, Gautam Gambhir, and the set of players who are currently in Japan is under the observation of VVS Laxman.
Mohammad Kaif asks Shreyas Iyer to continue VVS Laxman's method
The Indian cricket team in Japan took a massive call regarding their playing XI for the semi-final against Sri Lanka. The Laxman-coached team played Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan together, making some changes in the batting order. The team's approach to fielding all of their best players in the match has impressed the former Team India cricketer Mohaammaad Kaif a lot.
In his latest comments. Kaif urged Shreyas Iyer to maintain the playing combination, even after returning home, when VVS Laxman will not be with the team. Under the coaching of Gautam Gambhir, the team either kept Sanju Samson or played Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the playing XIs.
"VVS will not be the coach when they come back. But Shreyas will be the captain, right? So I think Shreyas Iyer should take that call and play these three batters and work the combination. If they have found a way, they should look at it even if the coach is different. Even if one of these three fires on the day, India will win games," he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Who will be the openers for India's T20I team?
Mohammad Kaif, in the same YouTube video, further stated that the team should always plan the playing XI without leaving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench.
But Kaif would like to see the opening combination between Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, maintaining a right- and left-hand batting combination at the top of the batting order, even if Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stays in the playing combination.
You will see Vaibhav, Abhishek, and Sanju playing together: Mohammad Kaif on India's combination
Along with Vaibhav, Sanju, and Abhishek, Ishan Kishan is another batter who could play as an opener. Shreyas Iyer-led team slotted Ishan at No. 5, and he played an 80-run knock in the 2026 Asian Games. This showed that all four hard hitters can play together in the same match.
"I told this before also that all three should play together. You cannot keep Suryavanshi out. He is ready and does not need grooming. You will see Vaibhav, Abhishek, and Sanju playing together. However, I would keep the left-right combination and stick to Abhishek and Sanju opening. Ishan played at five and scored 80, so the flexibility is there. I am happy that VVS showed that this combination can work," Kaif added.
