With India already beginning to shape its plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies could serve as an important testing ground for players outside the established core.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Yashasvi Jaiswal should be one of the players given an extended run rather than being used only as a backup option.
India's ODI series against the West Indies begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, followed by matches in Guwahati and New Chandigarh on September 30 and October 3 respectively. Shubman Gill will captain the side, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also included, while Jaiswal is among the 15 players selected.
The scheduling clash with the Asian Games has created room
for several players to make their case, something Pathan sees as an opportunity rather than a problem.
"With the Asian Games and the West Indies series happening simultaneously, it's a blessing in disguise, where a lot of young boys will definitely get a chance," Pathan told Jio Hotstar.
Jaiswal, in particular, is on Pathan's radar. The left-hander has already made an impact in limited ODI opportunities and scored his maiden ODI century against South Africa last December.
"One player I will have my eyes on, in terms of the number of opportunities he gets in this one-day series against the West Indies, is Yashasvi Jaiswal. He is the backup opener in the squad, and by the time you reach South Africa for the World Cup, your backup opener should have had enough opportunities," he said.
"So, whenever there is an opportunity, I would want to see him playing regularly. Obviously, you will have to think about how you create those opportunities, whether you shuffle the batting order or rotate the players, but I hope he gets his chances against the West Indies. "
Pathan also highlighted Naman Dhir, who has received his maiden ODI call-up, as another player worth watching, particularly for his ability to contribute with the ball.
"I think he is a great talent. More than his performances in domestic cricket, he has been selected for his ability to bowl. A batter who can bat lower down the order, can bat in the top order as well, and can bowl handy off-spin, a player of that type has been missing a little bit in the ODI setup," he said.
