{
  "id": 8665278,
  "title": "'Backup Opener Needs Enough Chances Before World Cup': Irfan Pathan On Jaiswal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/backup-opener-needs-enough-chances-before-world-cup-irfan-pathan-on",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T10:03:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/backup-opener-needs-enough-chances-before-world-cup-irfan-pathan-on-jaiswal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India will face the West Indies in a three-match ODI series beginning September 27, marking the start of a high-profile home season for the Men in Blue. JioStar expert Irfan Pathan discussed the series on JioHotstar’s ‘Follow the Blues’ and shed light on Yashasvi Jaiswal's chances as the backup opener and Naman Dhir's maiden ODI call-up.\n\nAccording to Pathan, the India-West Indies series is an ideal opportunity for India to test their bench strength ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. \"This is not the main team against the West Indies for the ODIs, and I feel that’s the right way to go. Bumrah is not there, Shreyas, Axar, and Washington Sundar are all playing at the Asian Games. You are going to get only a few matches before the World Cup next year, and in those games, you want to test your bench strength as well,\" Pathan said.\n\nPathan's focus was on Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is set to get ample opportunities as the backup opener. \"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. So, whenever there is an opportunity, I would want to see him playing regularly,\" Pathan remarked.\n\nNaman Dhir's inclusion in the squad has also caught Pathan's attention. \"I really admire Naman Dhir, I think he is a great talent. More than his performances in domestic cricket, he has been selected for his ability to bowl,\" Pathan said. Dhir's versatility, able to bat lower down the order as well as in the top order and bowl off-spin, makes him a valuable asset for the ODI setup. \"Washington Sundar is not available because of the Asian Games, and Riyan Parag has had injury concerns, so if Naman gets his opportunity, I will be excited to see him. He has the skill, but more than his batting, his bowling will be tested,\" Pathan concluded.",
  "summary": "India take on the West Indies in a three-match ODI series starting September 27, as a blockbuster home season kicks off in Thiruvananthapuram for the Men in Blue. Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Follow the Blues’, JioStar expert Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts on Yashasvi Jaiswal getting enough opportunities as the backup opener with one eye on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, as well as Naman…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}