Rohit Sharma

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar suggests that opting for a younger Indian squad for the T20 World Cup might have been more advantageous, considering the previous lack of success with senior players.He advocates for injecting youthful talent like Yashaswi Jaiswal into the mix, rather than solely relying on experienced players.Despite the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from many T20 matches last year, selectors have chosen to reinstate them, presumably banking on their experience.Manjrekar notes that the default opening pair now appears to be Rohit and Kohli, whereas he would have preferred exploring alternatives, such as incorporating the promising Jaiswal.“Ideally, I would not have gone that way; I would have stuck with a slightly more younger kind of, core set of players but the selectors have committed themselves to the icons, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports’ Press Room World Cup edition on Friday.“Now that they are in the squad, it’s impossible to have Virat Kohli batting at No. 3 because then you don’t get the full rally of Virat. Rohit Sharma has to open, so now, India in a way have forced themselves to have only one kind of combination – two right-handers,” he said.Manjrekar doubts that Yashaswi Jaiswal would secure a spot in the Indian XI.“Unfortunately, Jaiswal will have to sit out. I would have gone completely with a new lot (and) then he would have had a lot more flair and it would be something different,” he said.“(But) India have trusted the seniors a move that hasn’t worked over the years let’s hope it works this time,” Manjrekar added.The former Indian batter also rejected the idea that Mohammed Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi would present a significant threat to the Indian batters in the upcoming clash between the two arch-rivals on June 9th.“Mohammed Amir played his last international T20 seven years back. We have no idea what his form is like today. Shaheen Afridi is not the same bowler that he was two years ago.“India have handled him really well, if you remember the Asia Cup, even in the 50-overs World Cup we had a one-sided match. I do not see Pakistan as a major threat to India, plus the names (of) Mohammed Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi. I do not think this is a problem for India,” he added.Meanwhile, Irfan Pathan labeled left-arm spinner Imad Wasim as a potential threat.“As a left-arm spinner with the new ball, he is not bad. He is a smart, bowls stumps to stumps and if the ball grips then he could be a threat,” he said.Manjrekar expressed confidence in Hardik Pandya‘s ability to excel as a finisher.“My vote will always go to Hardik Pandya. I know he had a pretty quiet IPL, but go back to the last T20 World Cup that India played, the last match, semis against England at Adelaide.“Hardik Pandya got 60 off 30 balls at a strike rate of 190 after India had got 62 in their first 10 overs.“When it comes to T20 World Cup – marquee events – back those guys who actually excel on the big stage and for me it will always be Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant ahead of people like Shivam Dubey, until we see him on the big stage,” he said.Pathan mentioned that both Pandya and Dube would fulfill distinct roles in the competition.“Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube will play different roles. Hardik will have a set role to finish the game and Shivam will play as a floater, as a reinforcer against the spinners,” he said.Manjrekar highlighted India’s cautious approach in the first round of the tournament, drawing parallels to their early exit in the 2007 50-overs World Cup in the Caribbean.“India will feel the pressure of the first round because (in) 2007 (in) the West Indies, funny things (had) happened. I see India up and running very quickly. (But) I’m just going to watch this Indian team in the matches that matter – semis and the finals,” he said.“For India, World Cups are not anymore about getting into the final round. It’s about what you do in the final rounds,” he added.Manjrekar also asserted that Kohli tends to face extra pressure in knockout games because of his stature, a situation not mirrored by Rohit.“Virat does take it upon himself. You see that happening in all the big games to bat a little longer, perhaps feels obliged because of the kind of stature that he has in Indian cricket to bat longer rather than just come and bat freely,” he said.“But Rohit Sharma will do that, no matter his stature. We saw that in the ODI World Cup. But I’m worried about Virat really when it comes to semis and the finals,” he added.(With PTI inputs)