CT 2025: “He brings that left-handedness,” Gavaskar prefers Jaiswal over Gill in India’s Champions Trophy team

Jaiswal is yet to make his ODI debut despite doing well in Tests and T20Is.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s stocks are on the rise in recent times. After doing well in Test cricket at home, the southpaw proved his worth in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, finishing as India’s top scorer with 391 runs from five matches with one hundred and two fifties.

The 23-year-old has also showcased his exceptional talent in T20Is, but he is yet to make his debut in the ODI format.

Impressed with his exploits, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar now wants to see Jaiswal opening for India in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.

Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar said he is advocating for Jaiswal’s inclusion mainly because of the left-right combination at the top of the order for India.

"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," Gavaskar stated.

"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," he added.

The upcoming ODI series against England, starting February 6 in Nagpur, will be an ideal preparatory ground for the Indian team before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, slated to be held in Pakistan and UAE from February 19 to March 9.

If Jaiswal gets a chance to open the innings in the England series, Shubman Gill will have to vacate a slot. While Gill’s Test numbers are shaky, he has been highly successful in the 50-over format, amassing 2328 runs in 47 matches at an average of 58.20 with six centuries and 13 half-centuries.

However, Jaiswal’s List A stats are quite impressive, averaging 53.96 in 32 matches. The swashbuckling left-hander has also shown a high degree of adaptability, striking at 150.25 in 104 T20s and averaging 62.40 in 35 first-class matches.

Jaiswal has played 19 Tests so far, scoring 1798 runs at an average of 52.88 with four tons and 10 half-centuries. He has also accumulated 723 runs in 23 T20Is at a strike rate of 164.31, including one century and five fifties.