Former Indian National Cricket Team Wicketkeeper-batsman Kiran More has picked captain Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the Afghanistan national cricket team.

Rohit Sharma will be seen in action in T20I cricket for the Indian national cricket team for the first time since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia when he takes part in the upcoming T20Is in Afghanistan.

He, along with many senior players, was excluded from the T20I after the loss to the England national cricket team in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 and the selection committee gave opportunities to the youngsters.

However, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 just a few months away, the selection committee has called up Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20I setup and they will play the Ibrahim Zadran-led team in a three-match T20I series. The matches will be played on January 11, 14 and 17.

India have as many as four opening options available for the short T20I series against Afghanistan and only Rohit Sharma is the safe selection. The other options are Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kohli is more likely to bat in his usual number 3 position, meaning the battle will be between Jaiswal and Gill to partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order.

Ahead of the series, former Indian National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batsman Kiran More has named his pick and does not want Shubman Gill to join Rohit Sharma as an opener.

Yashasvi Jaiswal for me because… – Kiran More about Rohit Sharma’s initial partner

During a discussion on Sports 18, More said that he wants to see Yashasvi Jaiswal open the innings for India in T20Is with Rohit Sharma as he will give the team a left-right combination. Kiran More praised the left-handed opening batsman and said that Yashasvi Jaiswal has been exceptional and plays an aggressive style of cricket from the first ball.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal for me because he is a combination of left and right. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s performances have been exceptional. He is aggressive and talks fours and sixes from the first ball,” he stated.

The former India player added that Gill is also a good player but the left-right flyhalf combination would be better for India in T20I cricket.

“I think Shubman Gill is definitely a good player but I will go for a combination of right-handed and left-handed batting in the T20 format. I will surely go with Yashasvi,” he added.

Apart from picking the players to watch out for in the three-match IND vs AFG T20I series, more details:

“Rinku and Tilak because Tilak Varma is a good player. He is a 360-degree player and Tilak Varma bats the same way as Rinku. I think we should think a little ahead and take Tilak and Rinku with us.”

Kiran More was also asked to name his choice between Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan to partner Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as India’s third bowling option in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The cricketer turned commentator went with Arshdeep Singh because he sets the pace with his left arm. He explained:

“Arshdeep brings good variety. He is a left-arm spinner and bowled exceptionally well in the last series. He will continue to learn as he continues to play more games. I think left-arm fast bowlers make a big difference because they create a different angle.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is scheduled to be played from June 1 to 29 in the US and West Indies.