Abhishek Sharma discarded as ex India selector reveals India's openers for Sri Lanka T20Is

Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim wants Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal to be India's openers for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. India's tour of Sri Lanka will begin on July 27 with a three-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series against the home team.

Both Gill and Jaiswal were India's preferred openers in the recently concluded T20I series against Zimbabwe. Both were impressive during the series and are also seen as the replacements for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format after the conclusion of T20 World Cup 2024.

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Saba Karim wants Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as India's openers

During a conversation with Sony Sports, Saba Karim predicted India's squad for the Sri Lanka series. He wants the selectors to pick Shubuman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers. Karim also reckoned that dashing left-hander Abhishek Sharma should be a part of the squad.

"The most important positions will be in the top order only. I feel the selectors should go with these two (Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal) 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 opined.

Shubman Gill was India's captain against Zimbabwe and emerged as the highest run-scorer of the series with 170 runs in five matches at an average of 42.50 and a strike rate of 125.92.

Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal was the second-highest run-scorer with 141 runs in three matches at an average of 70.50 and a strike rate of 165.88. Abhishek Sharma also showed his six-hitting prowess in the series with a scintillating hundred in just his second game.

Who will be India's next T20I captain?

With Rohit Sharma having retired now, the selectors and the team management will have to pick a new captain for the T20I format. Currently, Hardik Pandya is leading the race for that role but selectors are yet to announce it officially. Hardik was India's vice-captain in the T20 World Cup 2024 and has been seen as Rohit's successor for the role in white-ball formats.

Karim felt that it would depend on the thought process of new coach Gautam Gambhir and how he wants to run this team. He also reckoned that Ruturaj Gaikwad is also a choice for the top-order spot, which will make the squad selection interesting.

"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 do 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," Saba Karim added.

Ruturaj Gaikwad had an excellent series against Zimbabwe. While batting at No. 3 and No. 4, he scored 133 runs in four matches at an impressive average of 66.50 and a strike rate of 158.33.