It is almost unthinkable. The first 11 of Team India to not feature their best batsman. But it is worth considering. Almost as a speculative point. Can India drop Virat Kohli and go with specialist opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in their next ICC World T20 game? This is a big question considering player pedigree and the general unease teams face when it comes to big-name players.
But we pose the question: should India drop its star player, who is batting in a slot that is not proficient in, and be replaced by someone who can do a better job? The current form of both players is considered. Here we will make the case, a controversial one, as to why it might make sense for India to drop its star player and go with the bravery of youth and form instead.
Dropping Virat Kohli – Unthinkable but Doable
Let’s get the obvious point out of the way. Virat Kohli is India’s best batsman and is arguably the best in the world right now. His form during the recently concluded Indian Premier League was stellar. Being the highest scorer in the tournament with an average of 61.75. Whilst there were some question marks about his strike rate, these concerns were dismissed because this is Virat Kohli we are talking about.
But if the strike rate of the right-hander is a problem, it is not the only one. In the ICC World T20 2024, Kohli’s form has been dreadful. Besides managing a run-a-ball 24 against Afghanistan, his scores in the tournament so far have been: 0, 4, and 1. Not great numbers considering the class of the player. However, the question is does this warrant dropping the player? Well, the answer to that would be, how good is the replacement?
Should India Go For the Riskier But Braver Option?
Winning in cricket is about taking calculated risks. Whilst it is natural to go with the tried and tested approach of playing the best 11 players, in cricket the team formula matters. With Kohli at the top and failing means that things are not in order. The spine of the team so to speak is slightly bent. In Yashasvi Jaiswal you have a dynamic young opener, who is attacking and knows what his role is.
The same cannot be said with certainty about Kohli opening the innings. In some way, the role of Virat Kohli in the team is similar to the predicament faced by the selectors when picking Rohit Sharma for the team as opener and captain. Sharma has not been in the best of form yet he was picked. The reasons for this are varied, but giving the captain of the 2023 World Cup finalist to redeem the glory for India and himself was one of the reasons. Now on form alone, Rohit Sharma is not the best given his recent IPL performances. This again raises the question: why not Yashasvi Jaiswal?
Yashasvi Jaiswal – Awesome Talent That Adds a New Dimension
At this point, persons from certain quarters would argue that it is too late to make any changes. India has won all the games they have played, and there is no reason to chop and change in this competition. This is a fair point, and truly if India can keep relying on their batting depth to pull them out of difficult situations, as Suryakumar Yadav did against Afghanistan, then sure.
The trouble when it comes to the big games, like a semi-final the top teams need to produce a top innings that can take the game away from the opposition. A player who can almost single-handedly make a difference on the day. This player is sadly not Virat Kohli. Kohli’s form as noted has not been great, and frankly, it doesn’t seem like it is going to pick up. Yashasvi Jaiswal on the other hand is no doubt a wild card. But if he is a player who can produce those match-winning innings. In which case he could become the trump card.
About the Author
Damian Thar writes on a range of topics. His interests include a wide array of topics from news media, film, science fiction, and politics. In addition to his professional work, he writes essays on subjects like philosophy, history, and culture. A key focus of his writings is the intersection between science, religion and society. He also writes and edits books and in his free time, he makes YouTube videos on topics like religion, theology, and current events. You can find his work here.
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