SL vs IND: Ashish Nehra’s hilarious take on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s success in Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli’s absence

Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal couldn’t break into India’s playing XI during the T20 World Cup. The pair of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli featured as openers in the entire tournament as Jaiswal warmed the bench. He made his return to the playing XI in the series against Zimbabwe, in which, he scored 141 runs in three matches, and finished as the second-leading run-scorer of the series.

In the opening game of the series against Sri Lanka, the opener managed to keep up with the momentum as he hit 40 runs off just 21 deliveries in Pallekele. He looked in good touch and gave the team a perfect start in the powerplay. Along with Shubman Gill, he stitched a partnership of 74 runs, as India posted 213 runs on the board in the first innings.

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Meanwhile, after the game, in a chat with host broadcaster Sony Sports, Ajay Jadeja was talking to Jaiswal about him being the successor of Rohit and Kohli in white-ball cricket. That’s when former cricketer Ashish Nehra trolled him saying that during their time, Jaiswal would only warm the bench and play good shots in the nets but now that they have retired from T20Is, the UP-born cricketer can make a mark in matches as well.

“Ajay Jadeja asked you what's the difference when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were there (to open in 20Is). According to me, there is just one difference. If Virat and Rohit were still playing this format, then whatever strokes we saw from you today, you would have played those in the nets. Now you are getting to play those shots in the match because they (Virat and Rohit) are not there,” said Nehra.

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India meanwhile picked up a comfortable 43-run win in the first T20I. Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis started well with the bat but the middle order flopped as the Men in Blue got the job done. Riyan Parag picked up three wickets for India while Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh picked up two each.