Sunil Gavaskar picks Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of Shubman Gill as opener for Champions Trophy

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar wants selectors to pick Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of Shubman Gill as opener for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Gavaskar said Jaiswal will bring a left-handed angle to the equation. But it should be noted that Gill is currently ahead of Jaiswal in the pecking order in ODI cricket.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal was India’s highest run-getter in the recently Border-Gavaskar trophy as he scored 391 runs in five Test matches at an average of 43.44.

Jaiswal has played 23 T20Is for India in which he has scored 723 runs at an average of 36.15 but he is yet to make his ODI debut.

On the other hand, Shubman Gill has scored 2328 runs in 47 ODIs at an impressive average of 58.2.

“Who wants to be an Indian selector. For me, the left-handed Yashasvi Jaiswal because he brings that left-handedness. One of the biggest plusses or minuses, depending on which way you look at it, is the fact that there will be white balls,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports show game plan.

Gavaskar highlighted the importance of having a left and right-hand batting combination at the top.

“So what is a great delivery for a right-hander becomes a wide down the leg side for a left-hander, which means an extra run and an extra ball. So that left and right-hand combination even in the middle, with Rishabh Pant around, all these things will make a big difference,” Gavaskar elaborated.

The former Indian captain added he would love to see Jaiswal in ODI cricket as he has already done a great job in T20Is as well as Test format.

“For a guy who has done so well in T20 cricket, a strike rate of 160, and has had a fantastic year, one of the best, in Test cricket as a youngster, he hasn’t played ODI cricket. I would love to see him. Imagine if both of them get going from both ends. It will be a nightmare for the bowlers,” the former India all-rounder said.

Gavaskar noted that Shubman Gill’s recent form isn’t the best and thus his place could be under scrutiny.

“No. 3 will be (Virat) Kohli. No. 4 could be Shreyas (Iyer). No. 5 is Rishabh Pant. This is what the batting would be. So it will be difficult for Shubman. His recent form has not been the most encouraging, you have got to say even in Australia. So with that in view, we will have to wait and see what happens,” he replied.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on 20th February in Dubai.