'The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for' - Ravi Shastri names two Indian powerhouses to keep an eye on during T20 World Cup

Less than a month remains before the excitement of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup kicks off, and the spotlight is already on some Indian talents. Ravi Shastri, the former Indian allrounder and head coach, has singled out two left-handed players as ones to watch in this edition of the tournament.

In an interview with the ICC, Shastri highlighted Yashasvi Jaiswal's potential and Shivam Dube's resurgence. Both players, according to Shastri, could play pivotal roles in India’s quest to regain the T20 World Cup title.

Jaiswal, a 22-year-old explosive batter has already made a mark with his fearless approach at the top of the order. With a strike-rate of 161.93 in T20 internationals, including a century and four fifties, Jaiswal promises fireworks. Currently showcasing his talent with the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, Jaiswal’s ability to take on any bowling attack makes him a player to watch out for.

“The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for, and both are left-handers, both playing their first World Cup. One is (Yashasvi) Jaiswal. We know a lot about him, he did extremely well against England, explosive at the top of the order, left-hander, he’s young, he’s fearless and he’ll play shots,” Shastri told ICC.

On the other hand, Shastri emphasized the destructive capabilities of Dube, particularly against spin bowling. The 30-year-old allrounder, in superb form for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, has the knack for clearing the boundary ropes at will. Shastri even humorously remarked that Dube could hit balls out of Long Island into the small island with his powerful hitting.

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He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you - Ravi Shastri

“But there’s someone in the middle order, please watch out for [him], because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner. He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you. He’ll park a few balls out of Long Island into the small island, he’s that kind of a player. He hits it big, he hits it long, and like I said, against spin, he could kill you,” he added.

While questions have been raised about Dube’s technique against fast bowlers, Shastri expressed confidence in his ability to handle them. According to Shastri, Dube has addressed any concerns and is ready to make an impact in the middle order for India.