Former Indian National Cricket Team skipper Sunil Gavaskar has made surprising choices as the reserve openers for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019. Meanwhile, England and Wales will host this year’s showpiece event starting from May 30.
Going into the World Cup, the opening slot is one of the few spots, the management will try and fill ahead of the major tournament. KL Rahul got an extended run in the build-up to the mega event; however, he failed to cement his place with a string of poor scores with the bat. In addition to, the recent social media uproar following their controversial remarks on a TV show hurt his cause.
The management also tried young Shubman Gill but the young batsman has failed to make a mark. Despite the batsman from Punjab showing hints that he belongs to this place, it is too early for him for a World Cup berth.
However, after the fifth ODI at Wellington, Sunil Gavaskar has opined to use Dinesh Karthik as the backup opener for the pinnacle event in May. The management has used Dinesh Karthik a floater in this Indian side and in the recent past he has also don the role of a finisher and in the middle order. Hence, this choice is surprising, but the Tamil Nadu player has the experience and game to adapt according to the conditions which could see the team management push him up the order if the need be.
Previously, Gavaskar also mentioned the name of Rishabh Pant for the Australia home series and on adding Karthik name for the aforementioned spot, Gavaskar said,
“If the team has three wicketkeepers, so be it.”
Meanwhile, the Indian National Cricket team still have five ODI games to go to finalise the combination before the ICC World Cup.
