Andy Flower suggests Yashasvi Jaiswal will play despite Abhishek Sharma's ton

After a shocking 13-run defeat in the first T20I against Zimbabwe, India leveled the series in Harare by winning the second fixture of the five-match series by 100 runs. Abhishek Sharma turned his and India’s fortunes around. He bagged a duck on his international debut but laid the foundation on which India posted 234/2 in the second T20I. The left-hander hammered 100 off 47 balls, becoming only the second batter to follow a duck on his T20I debut with a century in the second outing. 

Abhishek’s knock showcased that he can translate his Indian Premier League (IPL) success into international cricket. However, according to the former Zimbabwe captain and a part of the current broadcasting team in Zimbabwe, Andy Flower stated that Abhishek’s spot is not certain yet. 

Flower was hinting at Yashasvi Jaiswal, another left-handed opener, who has joined the squad after the first two T20Is. Jaiswal was part of India’s World Cup-winning squad in the Caribbean and USA. However, Jaiswal couldn’t break into the XI, owing to the presence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. 

Jaiswal, along with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube had to withdraw from the first two T20Is. The trio has now joined the squad which can cause a few changes in the XI ahead of the third T20I on Wednesday (July 10). 

"Well, we have got Jaiswal still coming into the series, haven't we? So that sort of competition is exactly what the Indian selectors and all the Indian followers are looking for. It makes it really interesting and it's great for the Indian game if they have got lots of options like that," Flower said on Sony Sports after Abhishek’s hundred on Sunday (July 7).

Abhishek opened with the skipper Shubman Gill in the first T20Is which means if Jaiswal comes in on grounds of being ahead in the pecking order, Abhishek might have to make way or slide down in the batting order. 

The 23-year-old scored 484 runs in IPL 2024 at a strike rate of 204.2, which earned him his place on this tour. 

"He should be confident at the moment coming off such a great IPL and then getting a hundred in his second international match. So what a great start. It's really important to get those runs as a young player because confidence and self-belief are so important to your chance of doing well. So I am very happy for him and I am looking forward to seeing more of him in this series," Flower spoke on Abhishek’s hundred. 

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