Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have performed admirably for the Indian cricket team, who thrashed Zimbabwe comprehensively in the recently concluded T20I series. Both the openers appeared to be in excellent form, and with India facing Sri Lanka next in three T20Is and three ODIs, former chief selector Saba Karim urged the team management to select both batters as opening options.

Karim also asked the team management, led by new head coach Gautam Gambhir, to give Abhishek Sharma a chance, given that Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav are set to bat at No.3 and No.4 respectively. The most important positions will be in the top order only. I feel the selectors should go with these Jaiswal and Gill only. I feel Abhishek Sharma should get a place at least in the 15 because you have Pant at No.3 and Suryakumar at No.4, Karim said.

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, he added.

This Sri Lankan series will be Gambhir’s first assignment, and the team is set to have a new captain with Hardik Pandya not in the fray in the aftermath of the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. India’s second-string team defeated Zimbabwe by 42 runs in the fifth T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday to complete a 4-1 series win.