'...if Shubman doesn't go as well as expected': Dinesh Karthik labels Yashasvi Jaiswal as 'back-up opener' for Champions Trophy 2025

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels Yashasvi Jaiswal will be warming the benches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Karthik believes that the team management and selectors will not tinker with the opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the ODIs until and unless the latter does not live up to expectations. 
 

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

Gill was recently named vice-captain of the side ahead of the likes of KL Rahul in ODIs and Hardik Pandya in T20Is. India have only three ODIs to play before the Champions Trophy. The Rohit Sharma-led side will play the ODI series in first half of February, just before the marquee event.
 

“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,” Karthik added.
 

Meanwhile, Jaiswal is yet to make his ODI debut despite proving his mettle in Tests and the ODIs. He was benched throughout the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as Virat Kohli opened alongside Rohit. 

 

ALSO READ: Batter from 77th ranked T20I side smashes 39 runs in an over to break Yuvraj Singh's record; watch video
 

Jaiswal’s List A record

The 22-year-old has an impressive List A record (One-Day domestic). The southpaw has scored 1,511 runs from 32 innings at an average of 53.96 including five centuries and seven half-centuries. He has scored a double century as well. 

 

ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana rises to third spot in ICC women's ODI rankings, will have to wait till December to climb further
 

His last List A appearance was in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 group stage clash between Mumbai and Railways. He departed for a single-digit score whereas Sarfaraz Khan's 117-run knock led Mumbai over the line in the run chase of 338.
 

Jaiswal’s form

However, Jaiswal is in good form of late. He scored 80 runs from three innings in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Before that, he was the second-highest run-scorer on Zimbabwe tour despite missing the first two T20Is. The youngster also scored an unbeaten 93 in the successful run chase. But he did not get a chance in the ODI series against Sri Lanka despite regular batting collapses.
 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK

Lucknow Super Giants in talks with Gautam Gambhir's ODI World Cup 2011-winning teammate for mentor role ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction: Report

Yuvraj Singh's biopic announced, 'Sachin: A Billion Dreams' producer to co-produce via 200 Not Out Cinema