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Indian cricket is undergoing a transition as the next generation of stars take guard. In the latest episode of Star Sports’ Deep Point, experts Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar discussed who next could emerge as the vanguards of Indian cricket.
The pair agreed that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are prime contenders. Former RCB coach Sanjay Bangar believes the rise of the Gill-Jaiswal duo mirrors the ascent of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli 12 years ago. “They’re in the same age group as Virat and Rohit were in 2013. Yashasvi is a little younger, but the difference is just a few years. They’ve both had remarkable starts in international cricket, so I think they’re the new-generation trendsetters of Indian cricket.”
Sanjay Manjrekar considers both players evenly matched in this regard. “Before the Australia series, Shubman Gill was my No. 1 choice alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal as India’s future hope. I think both of them will compete against each other, and we’ll see who prevails.”
Bangar is a big believer in Jaiswal, predicting great things for him. “The early signs indicate Yashasvi Jaiswal could be the one, provided fitness remains on his side. His temperament is solid. He’ll be one of India’s biggest run-scorers and match-winners in the future.”
Manjrekar elaborated on why he believes the lot has fallen on Jaiswal. “People who have watched him closely think he’s one for the future. The way he’s started—scoring big runs—shows his hunger. He’s not just content with a hundred in Test cricket; he’s getting big hundreds. He has a greed for runs at the highest level. If you want him to play for a draw, he can do that too. He plays late, uses the back foot well, and is capable of scoring on foreign pitches. That’s the most important trait for a GOAT.”
Manjrekar also believes Gill has a slight edge in white-ball cricket, but he sees potential for Jaiswal to bridge the gap. “Shubman Gill will continue dominating in white-ball cricket. We haven’t seen Yashasvi dominate outside Tests yet, but that world is there for him to capture. He has the ability, and he’ll show it when he gets the opportunity.”
Both experts looked beyond Gill and Jaiswal to identify other standout names. Manjrekar expressed strong support for TATA IPL winner Rinku Singh. “I love Rinku Singh. He shined in the TATA IPL, got the chance to play for India, and has exceeded expectations. I don’t agree with him losing his national team spot based on last season’s IPL form. He has the tools. In white-ball cricket, he should be in the squad all the time. His temperament is great, and he’s an excellent fielder.”
Discussing Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, Sanjay Bangar leaned toward Varma for his more well-rounded batting style. “I would prefer Tilak Varma. Abhishek Sharma dominates when field restrictions are in place, but Tilak can be special even in the middle order when the field is spread out. His temperament is also excellent.”
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