NEWS
Follow UsFormer India batter Wasim Jaffer has called for Ruturaj Gaikwad to replace Shubman Gill in the XI for the third and final T20 International (T20I) against Sri Lanka in Rajkot on Saturday (January 7). Gill has been in top form in One-Day Internationals (ODI) and also in Tests, in which he scored a century in the series against Bangladesh.
Gill, who made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, has has scored just 7 and 5 in the two matches so far and Gaikwad, who comes into the series scoring heavily in the domestic circuit is the other opening batter in the squad.
Jaffer however reckons that the bowling attack needs no changing despite being taken for over 200 in the previous encounter.
"I think Ruturaj Gaikwad should get a chance. He has scored a lot of runs [in domestic cricket]. He was outstanding in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Shubman Gill, on the other hand, hasn't been in great touch in the previous two matches. He has been disappointing. I will be tempted to play Ruturaj Gaikwad. He has been warming the benches for quite some time now," Jaffer said on ESPNCricinfo.
"In the bowling department, I will back Arshdeep Singh even though he had a forgetful day (in the 2nd T20I). You need to back him in this situation so that his confidence doesn't take a further hit. Apart from the one change in the batting department, I don't see any other changes in the XI," he added.
Arshdeep conceded 37 runs from his two overs in Pune that included as many as five no-balls. Umran Malik conceded 48 while Shivam Mavi too went for 53. However, the two spinners Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, conceded just 54 runs between them and also chipped in with three wickets.
The three-match series currently is tied at 1-1. India won the first game in Mumbai by two runs, while Sri Lanka bounced back in the second game to win it by 16 runs. A win on Saturday will give Sri Lanka their first-ever win in any format on Indian soil.
