'Jaiswal and Gaikwad to continue as openers and Gill at No. 3'- Sanjay Manjrekar ahead of South Africa T20Is

Ahead of the much-awaited multi-format series between India and South Africa, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has suggested the ideal opening pair for the upcoming T20I series in light of the team's surplus openers. With three talented openers in the squad, Manjrekar opined that the team should continue with the opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad while positioning Shubman Gill at No. 3.

During the recent series against Australia, post the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, Jaiswal and Gaikwad were entrusted with the opening roles, a period during which Gill was rested following the hectic ICC campaign. The dynamic duo of Jaiswal and Gaikwad showcased their prowess, with the latter emerging as the highest run-scorer in the series, accumulating 223 runs, which India won by 4-1. However, Gill's return to the team poses a selection dilemma for the team management, given his established role as an opener in the shortest format of the game. The strategic decision to potentially place him at No. 3 adds an intriguing element to India's batting lineup for the forthcoming series. 

"Will India think of disturbing this opening combination of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal? However, Shubman Gill has that track record. My compromise would be Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad to continue and Shubman Gill at No. 3," Manjrekar said while speaking to Star Sports.

The 58-year-old further emphasized the remarkable depth in the current Indian batting order, grappling with the challenge of accommodating the in-form Ishan Kishan in the lineup. It's worth noting that the wicketkeeper-batter showcased his prowess in the series against Australia by notching consecutive fifties in the first two encounters.

"I will bat at Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Then you have got Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Shreyas Iyer - that's your batting order. There is tremendous depth. How do I fit in Ishan Kishan? I am struggling," the former cricketer further said.