Saba Karim lists Rohit Sharma's and Virat Kohli's replacements in team India's T20I setup

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubmaan Gill are able replacements for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli feels India's former cricketer Saba Karim.

The former wicket-keeper batsman has given a big statement on the potential replacements of the outgoing stalwarts from T20I cricket. Kohli and Rohit announced their retirements from the format after India's T20 World Cup win.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal and Gill's batting exploits in the fourth T20I has given the Indian wicket-keeper batsman hope that the duo can replace the former stalwarts going forward in the format. Gill and Jaiswal shared an unbeaten 156-run stand as India chased the target inside 16 overs in the fourth T20I.

"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," Saba Karim said on Sony Sports.

"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," Saba Karim added on the young duo.

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He further said that India have many contenders to replace Kohli and Rohit but Gill and Jaiswal have done what they could have from their end.

"There are many other contenders as well. The selectors have to do that job but these players have done what was in their control. They had to win the match and the series and dominate like this in batting, which the Indian team did," he observed.

Jaiswal hit 13 fours and two sixes in his 93-run knock. He absolutely decimated everything that came his way. Gill played with a more measured approach being the skipper of the side and ensured that he kept his wicket intact. He finished unbeaten on 58 off 39 balls.

Saba Karim further spoke about India's likely opening pair for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka. India play a three-match T20I and ODI series from July 26-August 7. The T20Is will be played in Pallekele while the ODIs in Colombo.

Selectors Should Go With Shubman Gill-Yashasvi Jaiswal In Sri Lanka: Saba Karim

"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" he said.

Saba Karim ended his interaction by saying that India's new opening combination might also depend on new coach Gautam Gambhir and the new T20I captain's equations. As of now Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma are the two options alongside Gill and Jaiswal. Given Jaiswal's exploits in the format, in the last 12 months, he might be one of the two constants.

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