Sunil Gavaskar picks India's reserve opener for World Cup 2019

India’s core team for the upcoming World Cup might be more or less set but some questions still remain to be answered. One of them is about the reserve opener for the mega tournament which will be held in England and Wales. The Men in Blue have a solid opening pair in Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan but in case injury or any other reason breaks the partnership, then who would be the preferred choice to replace them? Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has one name in mind.

India tried KL Rahul as an alternative opening option but his form has been far too low to give the selectors the confidence of accommodating in the final squad heading to England. Youngster Shubman Gill was included in the playing XI in the final two ODIs in New Zealand but the batsman failed to fulfil his potential. In such a situation, Gavaskar has come up with Dinesh Karthik’s name as India’s reserve opener for the quadrennial showpiece event.

The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has been a player who has survived the distance since making international debut in 2004. In his 16th year in the international circuit, Karthik has played in only 26 Tests, 91 ODIs and 27 T20Is, gathering just over 3,000 runs with one century in the long format.

However, Karthik has remained a key member of India’s limited-overs assignments, thanks to his ability to score briskly and in pressure situations. Of late, the batsman has made a mark with his match-finishing touches and that could be one prime reason for him making the cut in the WC squad.

Gavaskar is okay with the squad carrying three wicket-keepers

Sunil Gavaskar, while speaking on Star Sports after India won the final ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on Sunday, said he would like to see Karthik as India’s opener in England. He also picked young wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant for the five-match ODI series at home against Australia next month and on the issue of adding Karthik as an opener, the former great said, “If the team has three wicketkeepers, so be it.” The third is, of course, the legendary MS Dhoni.

Karthik, who hit a last-ball six in the final of a T20I tournament against Bangladesh in Sri Lanka last year to win it for India, played a couple of responsible knocks recently against Australia and New Zealand while chasing and those could make him overcome the final hurdle to make it to the WC squad.

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