Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has backed Shubman Gill to open for India in the ICC Champions Trophy next year, along with captain Rohit Sharma. Gill has been India’s first-choice opening partner for Rohit in ODIs since the start of 2023, but his place in the XI of late has been questioned by a few fans and experts of the game due to his lean patch and the rise of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal, who made his international debut for India last year, has already made a big name for himself in Tests and T20Is and is seen by many as a future opener in ODIs as well. But according to Karthik, Gill will open for India in the ICC tournament next year, and Jaiswal, who is yet to play a 50-over match for the Men in Blue, can be a good back-up opener.
During a Cricbuzz show, when Karthik was asked about the possibility of Rohit and Jaiswal opening for India, he said, “Why? Rohit and Shubman are a very good combination. Yes, Jaiswal has a great opportunity to be the backup opener and will get his opportunity soon if Shubman doesn’t go as well as expected. And India has a very solid middle order as well.”
“In the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, they are just going to be playing three more games. And I am pretty confident it’s going to be Rohit and Shubman opening for the Champions Trophy,” he added.
India, which suffered a shocking 0-2 defeat in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month, will face England in a three-match ODI series next year before taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy.
The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy, which will feature eight teams, is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9. According to reports, Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi will host the matches.
India hasn’t travelled to Pakistan since 2008, and there are high chances that the 2013 champions will skip the Pakistan tour next year as well. In that case, the Champions Trophy will either move out of Pakistan or the tournament will be played in a hybrid format.
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