‘Me and Gill are trying to take it match-by-match’ – Yashasvi Jaiswal on comparisons with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. (Source – BCCI)

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli recently retired from the T20I cricket post helping India lift the T20 World Cup after 17 years. They opened together during the marquee event as India maintained an unbeaten record en route to the title. After their retirements, it is being expected that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who opened together in the third and fourth T20Is of the ongoing series against Zimbabwe, will be carrying the baton forward.

In the third T20I, the young duo stitched a 67-run partnership off 50 balls as India set a target of 182/4 in their 20 overs and restricted Zimbabwe to 159/6 in Harare. They went from strength to strength in the fourth T20I on Saturday, July 13, at the same venue, as they forged an unbeaten 156-run stand in just 15.2 overs, helping India chase down a 153-run target with consummate ease.

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Yashasvi won the Player of the Match award for his scintillating knock of 93 not out off 53 balls in the fourth T20I. The Southpaw, who was part of the Indian squad that won the T20 World Cup 2024 last month, acknowledged the surreal contributions of Rohit and Kohli and said that he does not want him or his opening partner Shubman Gill to face the burden of expectations so early in their careers.

“I think what they have done for Indian cricket is just incredible, and being a part of that dressing room is a blessing. We (him and Gill) are trying to take it match-by-match and one day at a time, focusing on the process,” Jaiswal told reporters in a media interaction after the 4th T20I.

Yashasvi’s knock was laced with 13 fours and two sixes. Meanwhile, Gill also played a fine knock, scoring 58 not out off 39 balls. The stand-in India captain hit six fours and two sixes during his innings. This was his second consecutive half-century.

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India sealed the series by taking an unassailable 3-1 lead after the win on Saturday. The inconsequential fifth T20I is scheduled to be played on Sunday and the Men in Blue would want to finish the tour with another win.