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'Having Him in World Cup Squad is a Must': Ganguly Demands A Berth For Yashasvi Jaiswal

image-lk9a7hm4Yashasvi Jaiswal followed a brilliant IPL season with a dream India debut 

With the World Cup 2023 looming on the horizon and slated to begin in under three months in India, all participating teams are in a frenzy to finalize their squads for the marquee event. Meanwhile, Indian selectors and team management have found themselves ensnared in a complex puzzle over the suitable opening duo for the tournament. 


Ganguly advocates for Jaiswal's World Cup selection

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were initially earmarked as the preferred opening combination for World Cup 2023.

Gill's string of phenomenal performances at the start of the year seemed to cement his spot. However, the stunning rise of the promising Yashasvi Jaiswal has thrown a spanner into these plans, stirring fresh deliberations among former players and experts who are ardently championing his inclusion in the World Cup 2023 squad.

Jaiswal's impressive breakout during the 2023 IPL season resulted in his first national call-up for the tour of West Indies. In a dream debut, he scored a record 171 in India's innings victory which saw him not only join former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly in the debut centurion list but also shatter the legend’s 27-year-old Asian record for most runs in a debut Test match away from home.

Speaking to Telegraph, Ganguly conveyed his admiration for the young player. He stressed the significance of notching up a century on one's debut, acknowledging that he has experienced it himself and understands its importance. 

“Scoring a hundred on debut is always massive. I too have done it, so I know how special it is. Even technique-wise, he seems really good. A left-handed batsman’s presence in the team always helps. So, having him in the World Cup squad is a must,” said Ganguly.

It is pertinent to mention that while pundits are batting for Jaiswal’s inclusion in India’s World Cup 2023 squad, he was overlooked for the ODI series in West Indies. 

Instead, the prodigious opener was included in the squad for the Asian Games 2023, which largely consists of players not being considered for the World Cup, given the clash of schedules with the quadrennial event.