Wasim Jaffer picks India's openers for T20 World Cup 2022, makes two surprise inclusions

Team India’s famed top-order has failed to live up to the expectations in the ongoing IPL 2022 barring KL Rahul, who is the only seasoned campaigner from the ‘Top 3’ to feature in the Orange Cap race. The likes of Virat Kohli, skipper Rohit Sharma, and Ishan Kishan have had a forgettable season which puts the Men In Blue in a spot of bother leading up to the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November this year.

With just over five months left for the showpiece event to kick off,  former India Test opener Wasim Jaffer has come forward and named the Men In Blue’s top-order contenders for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 down under. Meanwhile, the multiple-time Ranji Trophy winner has also justified the reason behind the inclusion of two emerging openers who have not had the best of the season so far.

Here are Wasim Jaffer’s top-order for T20 World Cup

“If we are to talk about the openers then I feel the batters who are definite for this position are KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. I think these will surely be there in the World Cup. Apart from that, I feel Prithvi Shaw should be in the World Cup T20 squad and there could be an outside chance for Ruturaj Gaikwad even though his IPL form has not been up to the mark but, I feel we need to persist with Ruturaj Gaikwad because he is a really big talent. Your IPL might not turn out to be good on many occasions but, I feel these four openers from the IPL must be there”, said Wasim Jaffer while speaking to CricTracker.

Rahul might have been run out for a diamond duck in the last game against the Kolkata Knight Riders but, he has had an outstanding season so far having amassed 451 runs from 11 matches averaging 50.11 and a strike rate of 145.02 including two centuries and as many half-centuries.

After struggling in the first half, Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 99 against southern rivals Sunrisers Hyderabad last week. Apart from that, he had also hit a 48-ball 73 against the Gujarat Titans. Prithvi Shaw on the other hand has blown hot and cold throughout the season. The young sensation has so far scored 259 runs from nine games including two half-centuries with his highest score being 61.