Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal? Dinesh Karthik picks Rohit Sharma's opening partner for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently picked Rohit Sharma's opening partner for Team India in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Dinesh Karthik backed Shubman Gill to open the innings in ODI matches, adding that he forms a very good combination with Rohit Sharma.

Shubman Gill last played for India during the recent white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. The right-handed batter scored 73 runs in two T20I matches at an average of 36.50 and a strike rate of 137.74. He managed to score just 57 runs in three ODI matches at an average of 19.00 and a strike rate of 61.29.

The youngster will lead Team A in the Duleep Trophy 2024, which is set to begin on September 5. Mayank Agarwal, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, KL Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav are part of his team. Gill will be hoping to score runs to boost his confidence ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh.

Yashasvi Jaiswal Has A Great Opportunity - Dinesh Karthik

On Cricbuzz's "Hey CB with DK," Dinesh Karthik was asked about Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening for India. Karthik acknowledged that Jaiswal could get a chance if Shubman Gill fails to deliver. He expressed confidence that Rohit and Shubman will open in the Champions Trophy.

"Why? Rohit and Shubman are a very good combination. Yes, Jaiswal has a great opportunity to be the backup opener and get his opportunity soon if Shubman doesn't go as well as expected. And India has a very solid middle order as well," Karthik said.

"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

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Yashasvi Jaiswal has played nine Test matches and 23 T20Is in his brief career. The left-handed batter has scored 1,028 runs in Tests and 723 runs in T20I matches. However, he has yet to debut in the 50-over format for India and is unlikely to get a call-up for ODIs ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 edition.

These Three Probably Are Right Up There - Dinesh Karthik

A fan compared Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to Sir Vivian Richards and Sir Don Bradman and asked who would be India's equivalent of Curtly Ambrose and Brett Lee. Dinesh Karthik picked Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Zaheer Khan as his choices among Indian bowlers.

"I would say Bumrah, Shammi, Zaheer Khan. Between these three, these have been three of the best bowlers that India has produced in terms of fast bowlers. Yes, there have been plenty we can talk about. Kapil Dev, we can talk about.

Ishaan Sharma who has done 100 best as a fast bowler. There have been plenty. But these three probably are right up there with some of the best fast bowlers India has produced."

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