Mumbai: With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on the horizon, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has pinpointed two debutants, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube, as pivotal to India’s prospects in the tournament, set to kick off in the Caribbean and USA next month.
Jaiswal and Dube, both left-handers, secured their places in India's 15-member squad for the upcoming competition. Jaiswal’s stellar performance in the ICC World Test Championship series against England, where he amassed a record-breaking tally of runs, has already caught attention.
Meanwhile, Dube’s explosive form in the ongoing IPL, marked by 26 sixes in just 11 matches, solidifies his credentials as a formidable batsman.
Speaking to ICC, Shastri emphasised the significance of these two players for India’s campaign. "One is [Yashasvi] Jaiswal... explosive at the top of the order, left-hander, he's young, he's fearless and he'll play shots,” Shastri noted.
He further hailed Dube, highlighting his prowess as a match-winner and a force to be reckoned with, especially against spin bowling.
Dube's remarkable strike rate of 170.73 in IPL 2024, coupled with an average exceeding 40 for his 350 runs in 11 games, has drawn admiration. Shastri, in particular, lauded Dube’s ability to accelerate innings and potentially propel India to formidable totals in the T20 World Cup. "His strike rate... will help India immensely in going forward, getting those 190s, 200s that are needed in big competitions," Shastri remarked.
As anticipation builds for the tournament, Shastri’s insights underscore the crucial roles Jaiswal and Dube are poised to play in India’s pursuit of T20 glory. With their explosive batting and ability to change the course of a match, the duo holds the key to India’s aspirations in the forthcoming ICC event.