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Harbhajan Singh thinks India making Shubman Gill the ODI vice-captain blocks Yashasvi Jaiswal’s progress in ODIs.
Shubman Gill (AFP Photo)
Legendary off-spinner Harbhajan Singh wanted Yashasvi Jaiswal to open with Rohit Sharma in the 2025 Champion’s Trophy and has raised questions about Shubman Gill being named the vice-captain in the squad.
Jaiswal has been included in the 15-member team but Gill is likely to secure the spot after being promoted as Rohit’s deputy. While discussing the topic on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan opined that the team management might opt for a right-left combination at the top of the order by playing Jaiswal.
“We all said Jaiswal should be there. The way he played in Australia, he showed that he was ready. We said he should not just be in the squad, but he should play in the XI. But, now, I think him playing in the XI will be difficult,” Harbhajan Singh said on YouTube.
“Shubman Gill is the vice-captain. He will open the innings. You can’t say that Yashasvi Jaiswal will open, Shubman Gill will play at No. 3 and Virat Kohli at No. 4. If that happens, where will Shreyas Iyer play? Yashasvi should have played. When a player is in form, he should play,” he added.
Jaiswal was India’s top-performing batter in the recent Border Gavaskar Trophy. While the majority of his teammates struggled on the tricky Australian pitches, Jaiswal finished as the second-highest scorer of the series, striking 391 runs in ten innings, averaging 43.44.
Harbhajan reckoned Jaiswal could play as the opener if Gill was not appointed the vice-captain. In that case, Kohli would bat at No. 3, with Iyer following him in the order. “Gill would have sat out in that case. But, now he is vice-captain. I don’t think a vice-captain will sit out,” Harbhajan explained.
India might afford both Gill and Jaiswal in the playing eleven if Iyer was dropped. Harbhajan, however, feels this decision would affect the balance of the team, weakening the middle order.
“Shreyas Iyer deserves a spot. He made over 300 runs in the World Cup. There is probably no better player in the middle-order than him. Yashasvi Jaiswal should play, but I don’t know how,” the World Cup winner said.
Gill was India’s first-choice opener along with Rohit in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The 25-year-old was in sublime form that year.
He featured in 23 ODIs and aggregated 1584 runs at an average of 63. His performance, however, has dipped in recent times.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal who has represented India in 19 Tests has yet to make his debut in the ODI format. He has participated in 32 List A matches, registering 1511 runs.
