Saba Karim said that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ideal replacements as openers in India’s T20I
team as well. However, both Rohit and Kohli retired from the shortest format at the game after Team India’s title-winning run in 2024
T20 World Cup. Reviewing the Zimbabwe vs India T20I game on Sony Sports, Saba Karim praised the young Indian team that beat the host convincingly and also lived up to expectations.
“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,” he said.
“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. 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 again shared.
However, Yashasvi Jaiswal played the aggressor’s role, smashed 13 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 93 in the fourth game as well. Shubman Gill, who played second fiddle to his opening partner for the majority of the innings, hit six fours and two sixes as well.
Reflecting on the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, Saba Karim said, “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.”
“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 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 concluded.
