Rohit, Gill viewed as India’s opening pair as Kotak urges Jaiswal to keep working hard
Sitanshu Kotak indicated that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are India’s preferred opening pair ahead of the first ODI against the West Indies on Sunday, and he urged recalled opener Yashasvi Jaiswal to continue working hard for opportunities.
Jaiswal has been named in India’s 15-member squad for the three-match series against the West Indies but a place in the playing XI, particularly at the top of the order, is not guaranteed. He featured in all three home ODIs against Afghanistan but was omitted from India’s subsequent tour of England before being brought back for this series.
Addressing selection competition, Kotak said the presence of several in-form players makes places hard to secure and stressed that Jaiswal remains part of the squad. "I think there is so much competition (for team spots) and so many players are performing. Jaiswal, we all know he is one of the best batters and whenever he gets an opportunity he performs. So he is part of the team," Kotak told reporters.
Kotak told Jaiswal not to see the situation as unfair and to remain patient while continuing to develop his skills and mindset. "As a support staff, we look after his skills, practise and his mindset and Gautam (Gambhir) also talks to him a lot, but sometimes you see, say if (for example) there are three very good wicketkeepers, only one can play," Kotak said. "So, it is not that somebody has been unfair to him. He should keep working hard and waiting for the opportunity and so far whenever he has been getting the opportunity, he has performed," he added.
Kotak also referenced the influence of senior players, including Rohit and Virat Kohli, on younger squad members as India plan for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. "See, it is all about selling experience. They always do that. Whenever I have seen all the experienced players, even Gautam because he was playing, the level they have experienced, and when they see some player is going through a similar condition or situation, they always talk to them."
He described the value of that exchange of experience and said senior players' guidance complements the support staff’s work. "I think selling experience or selling whatever you have learnt is a great thing to do because it is getting knowledge or refreshing your knowledge as well. So, I always see them talking to senior players even when they abstain from talking to me or Morne (Morkel) or Sairaj (Bahutule)."
Kotak said India are preparing for the World Cup by taking planning series by series and testing players in different conditions, pointing to an upcoming series in New Zealand as an example. "The experience in the dressing room," Kotak felt, would help India prepare for the World Cup in a more meaningful way. "So what we discuss and what we try, obviously Gautam is there, Virat and Rohit obviously are there. We take everybody's advice and think about how we need to start preparing if we bat first or bowl first. For example, WC is in South Africa, so what kind of wickets we can get. So, we prepare anyway." "So from now on, our plan is to do (planning) series by series. Luckily, we have a New Zealand series where it is outside Asia. So, there will be some different conditions - moisture, grass, all will be different." "If we can successfully do that, within a year's time we should be ready for any challenges, any different wickets or any different bowling attacks," he said.
On Ravindra Jadeja’s return to the white-ball squad after an eight-month absence, Kotak said he could be among the players in contention for selection while refraining from speaking for the selectors. "He is obviously in the mix. I mean, obviously, I am not part of the selection. So, I don't know what they are thinking. I just think that whoever is coming and playing for India, they are obviously part of the 20-25 players who possibly are in the mix." "Jadeja is an outstanding bowler. We all know his records and I mean how the team will set up and what kind of a combination selectors and captain and head coach will go with, that is the second thing." "But Jadeja is one of the best fielders on a world level. The experience he hasI actually firmly believe that experience is something you cannot beat. So, like we see Rohit and Virat, we see Jadeja, they bring a lot to the team," Kotak explained.
Kotak provided a fitness update on Shubman Gill after he was struck on his right elbow by Mohammed Siraj in training and confirmed the injury would not prevent him playing in the series opener. "Gill is looking good, I think he is good to go tomorrow," Kotak said, as India prepare to begin the three-match ODI series against the West Indies on Sunday.
