Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim believes Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are the ideal candidates to replace Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as openers in India’s T20I team. Sharma and Kohli retired from T20Is after India’s title-winning campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
In the fourth T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare, India chased down 152 with ease, thanks to an unbeaten 156-run opening partnership between Jaiswal (93* off 53) and Gill (58* off 39). Reviewing the game on Sony Sports, Saba Karim praised the young Indian side for their impressive performance and highlighted Jaiswal and Gill as ready to take over the top-order spots.
“This young team carried forward the brand of cricket India are playing in T20Is these days and that is why this is great news for the Indian team and the selectors. The performance has been as per the thinking this young team was sent to Zimbabwe. Although India lost the first match, they have staged a comeback after that,” Karim said.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill’s unbroken match-winning partnership, right and left-handed combination, which we have been repeatedly talking about. Two slots are vacant in front of you. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli won’t be seen in T20Is now. For that, I feel these two players are ready,” he added.
While acknowledging other contenders for the opener spots, Karim noted that Jaiswal and Gill have made a strong case for themselves with their performances.
Reflecting on the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, Saba Karim opined that India should continue with Jaiswal and Gill as openers but also consider including Abhishek Sharma in the squad.
“The most important positions will be in the top order only. I feel the selectors should go with these two (Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill) only. I feel Abhishek Sharma should get a place at least in the 15 because you have Rishabh Pant at No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4,” Karim elaborated.
He also mentioned Ruturaj Gaikwad as a contender for the opener’s position, depending on the approach of the new captain and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
“It also depends on who is the captain in T20Is. Gautam Gambhir is the head coach, so what is the thinking of the captain and head coach, and how they want to take the team forward. They will have to select players accordingly. Ruturaj Gaikwad is also there. So many players are staking a claim in the top order,” Karim stated.
India has already secured the series win against Zimbabwe, with the final T20I set to take place today in Harare.
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