'He can do what Rohit Sharma did' - Sanjay Manjrekar namedrops young India batter as upcoming star of India's T20I team

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has spoken about India’s T20I teams. Amid the ongoing T20I series in South Africa, fans and cricket pundits are expecting some young blood to join India’s squad in the upcoming T20I World Cup.

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However, there is speculation that senior players like skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might make a comeback, and the team might need just a few young batters in the squad. Meanwhile, Manjrekar has picked his next T20I sensation from India who can replicate in T20Is what Rohit did in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

While speaking with Star Sports, he said, “India can field another T20I team that can compete against other international teams, and that's basically what the IPL has done. If India is looking to reinvent their approach, Yashasvi Jaiswal could be the man for India. He can do what Rohit Sharma did in the ODI World Cup 2023 for India.”

Regrettably, Jaiswal was unable to display his talents to the South African audience as the first T20I in Durban was abandoned due to continuous rain. In 13 T20Is, the 21-year-old boasts an average of 33.63 and a strike rate of 163.71, featuring a century and two half-centuries.

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“He is a very talented player." Sunil Gavaskar lauds Yashasvi Jaiswal

Sunil Gavaskar, an iconic figure in Indian cricket, echoed the sentiments expressed by Sanjay Manjrekar, praising the dynamic and aggressive batting displayed by Yashasvi Jaiswal in T20 internationals. Gavaskar lauded Jaiswal for his free-flowing approach at the crease.

"The way he started against Jofra Archer in the IPL was impressive. He is a very good talent. Jaiswal brings the left-handedness as well in the top order. He has the freshness of not being tied down by experience. He sees the ball and hits the ball. Jaiswal is an all-format prospect for India," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

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Jaiswal played a pivotal role in India's impressive 4-1 T20I series victory against Australia, consistently delivering exceptional starts with a striking rate exceeding 146. The left-hander is expected to feature prominently in the upcoming second T20I against South Africa in Gqeberha on December 12. After the T20I series, the Indian team will engage in three ODIs and two Tests as part of their comprehensive tour of South Africa, spanning all formats of the game.