Ravi Shastri, the former head coach, has singled out two debutants as crucial to India’s aspirations in the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament is scheduled to be held in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) in June. Both players have secured spots in India’s 15-member squad for the competition. Shastri has emphasised their potential to make a significant impact on the team’s performance.
Ravi Shastri’s bold prediction
Shastri selected Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal as pivotal to the Men in Blue’s aspirations for clinching the T20 World Cup 2024.
“The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for, and both are left-handers, both playing their first World Cup,” Shastri said on Instagram.
“One is Jaiswal. We know a lot about him, he did extremely well against England, explosive at the top of the order, left-hander, he’s young, he’s fearless and he’ll play shots.”
“But there’s someone in the middle order, please watch out for [him], because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner. He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you,” he added.
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Impressive T20I stats of the duo picked by Shastri
Jaiswal is a rising star in Indian cricket. Making his T20I debut in 2023, he has featured in 17 matches, amassing 502 runs at an impressive average of 34, coupled with a striking strike rate of 162. Notably, he has crafted one century and four half-centuries for the Indian team.
Shivam also represented India, entering the scene in 2019. He showcased his prowess across 21 T20I matches, accumulating 276 runs over 14 innings, maintaining a notable average of 40 and a dynamic strike rate of 140. Moreover, he made valuable contributions with the ball, securing 8 wickets for the Indian team.
