Champions Trophy 2025: Dinesh Karthik picks his Indian openers, no place for RR star

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has confirmed his choice for India's opening slot for the 2025 Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan early next year. After the ODI series loss to Sri Lanka, early this month, Rohit Sharma-led India have only three more ODIs -- versus England at home -- ahead of the next ICC event. Thus, Karthik believes India will stick to their tried-and-tested opening pair of Rohit and Shubman Gill, with Yashasvi Jaiswal as an backup option.

Karthik explained his choiceonCricbuzz and said, "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."

"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," he added.

Gill and Rohit have forged a successful opening pair inODIs (with Jaiswal partnering Hitman at the top in whites). The duo opened the innings for India in the 2023 home ODI World Cup, where the Men in Blue ended as the runners-up. In the ODI WC, Rohit ended with 597 runs and Gill managed 354 runs despite missing the initial games due to dengue. The pair managed to put up four 50-plus stands and one century partnership.

Talking about Jaiswal, the southpawhasscored 1,028runs in 9 Tests, including three tons, and 723 runs at a strike-rate of 164.31in 23 T20Is. However, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter is yet to make his ODI debut. Given he was part of Rohit-led India's victorious 2024 T20 WC squad, he is likely to continue as a backup opener at the forthcoming Champions Trophy.

India are placed in Group A along with hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand whereas Group B comprises South Africa, Afghanistan, Australia and England.