Former Indian wicket-keeper batter Deep Dasgupta reckons Team India can look at Prithvi Shaw as a third opener for the upcoming T20 World Cup. While picking Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul as the first-choice openers, Deep believes Shaw can be selected as a backup opener in the World Cup squad.
Shaw has an impressive strike rate in T20 cricket and the renowned commentator feels the youngster might not score big but he surely can give a quick start to his team. However, Shaw doesn’t seem to be in scheme of things of the selectors for the T20I showpiece as he had played his first and last T20I back in July 2021 against Sri Lanka.
Shaw had scored 283 runs in 10 matches of Tata IPL 2022 while playing for Delhi Capitals at an average of 28.3 and a strike rate of 152.97.
Deep Dasgupta said while talking to Crictracker, “KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma would be my first choice [for T20 World Cup]. As a third opener, you can look at options like Prithvi Shaw, who has done extremely well in that opener slot and gives you a different skill set. The way he starts, he might not give you 70s, 80s or hundreds, but he can give you a brisk start.”
The renowned commentator feels Ishan Kishan has also done a decent job as an opener but he has lost his Midas Touch recently.
“Ishan [Kishan], if you look at the internationals, he’s done alright. He starts well but lost his mojo a bit now in the last few games.”
Meanwhile, India has a lot of options for wicket-keeper batsman as the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Dinesh Karthik have shown that they deserve to be on that flight to Australia. Dasgupta feels India has a plethora of options.
“There are a lot of wicket-keepers who are also good batters. They can fit into not only as keeper-batters but just as batters. Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik. Some players are still in work-in-progress mode like Jitesh Sharma. He has done well in IPL.”
“I think there are quite a few options. I am also looking at them from a batting perspective. In such a case, you play 2-3 wicket-keepers in the playing XI. For example- KL Rahul as an opener, Rishabh Pant in the middle-order and Dinesh Karthik as a finisher.”
India has a potent bench strength and they will aim to be at their best in the T20I World Cup.
