Former Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer has revealed his preferred playing XI for India's first T20I against Sri Lanka, with some surprise selections. Despite his form in the IPL, Sanju Samson finds himself left out in favor of T20 World Cup stars Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel, as Jaffer opted for a strong opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from T20Is, Jaffer included Gill and Rinku Singh in the team, along with specialist spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel. However, Jaffer's omission of Washington Sundar and selection of Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj as frontline seamers may raise a few eyebrows.
Former Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer has proposed his preferred playing XI for India's first T20I against Sri Lanka, scheduled for January 3, 2024. Jaffer's selections include some surprise inclusions and omissions.
Selections:
Omissions:
1. Why did Jaffer omit Sanju Samson? Answer: Jaffer favored Rishabh Pant's power-hitting and Axar Patel's all-round ability over Samson's capabilities.
2. Who replaced Virat Kohli as captain in Jaffer's XI? Answer: Jaffer retained Virat Kohli as captain, despite his retirement from T20Is.
3. What is the role of Rinku Singh in the team? Answer: Jaffer sees Rinku Singh as a potential middle-order batter who can also contribute in the field.
4. Why did Jaffer choose Arshdeep Singh over Washington Sundar? Answer: Jaffer preferred Singh's fast-bowling ability over Sundar's off-spin.
5. When is the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka scheduled? Answer: The first T20I will be played on January 3, 2024.
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