Young opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal’s poor form has been a major concern for the Indian cricket team in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2024.
Representing Rajasthan in the ongoing Indian T20 League 2024, Yashasvi Jaiswal has recorded a string of low scores - 24, 5, 10, 0, 24, 39 and 19 - this season.
The 22-year-old has scored just 121 runs in seven matches at an average of 17.29. While Jaiswal has failed to convert his starts into a big score, he has scored at an impressive strike rate of 145.78.
Before the Indian T20 League 2024 began, the flamboyant southpaw was the leading contender for the opening slot at the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies and the United States.
Jaiswal was in scintillating form across formats for the Indian cricket team since his international debut in the first Test against the West Indies in July 2023.
Even in India’s last international commitment before the Indian T20 League, Jaiswal finished as the leading run-scorer against England in the five-match Test series.
Opening alongside Rohit, Jaiswal accumulated 712 runs in five Tests at an average of 89, including two centuries and three fifties to his name.
Talking about his T20 international stats, Jaiswal has impressive numbers for the Men in Blue in cricket’s shortest format.
Since his T20I debut against West Indies in August 2023, the talented batter has amassed 502 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 161.93 while also maintaining an average of 33.46. He has slammed one hundred and four half-centuries in his short T20I career.
Earlier in the previous edition of the Indian T20 League in 2023, Jaiswal finished as the fifth-highest run-getter. He scored an impressive 625 runs in 14 matches, only behind Shubman Gill (890), Faf du Plessis (730), Devon Conway (672) and Virat Kohli (639).
Based on his form in the first four weeks of the ongoing T20 League, we take a look at Yashasvi Jaiswal’s T20 World Cup 2024 chances.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s T20 World Cup 2024 chances
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s T20 World Cup chances look bleak on current form in Indian T20 League 2024.
The Indian selectors are expected to pick two first-choice openers and a back-up for the opening slots in India’s 15-member squad.
Star opening batter Rohit Sharma will captain the Indian cricket team at the T20 World Cup 2024 as confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah in February.
Rohit has been in great form for Team Mumbai in the ongoing T20 League, having scored 261 runs in six matches, including a scintillating hundred against defending champions Team Chennai.
While there were ongoing debates about Virat Kohli’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, the former India captain has been in magnificent form in Indian T20 League 2024.
Kohli has been leading the Orange Cap list, having scored 361 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 72.20, including one hundred and two fifties to his name.
As per reports, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee could pick Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as first-choice openers on current form.
The dynamic duo could open for the Indian cricket team at the upcoming marquee ICC tournament.
As a result, Yashasvi Jaiswal could face strong competition from Shubman Gill as the back-up opener in India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
Having amassed 263 runs in seven matches for Team Gujarat this season, Shubman Gill could be the preferred choice as the back opener.
Furthermore, the current form of the likes of Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube could end hopes of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad.
Meanwhile, India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup is likely to be announced in the last week of April as the ICC's cut-off date for submission of teams is May 1.
However, every participating team will get a chance to change players in their initial squad till May 25.
Photo credit: Alamy
