Irfan Pathan picks Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for IND vs SA 2025 ODIs

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has backed Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner for the three-match ODI series against South Africa. With Indian captain Shubman Gill ruled out of the ODI series, Jaiswal is the front-runner to open the innings. Jaiswal has been waiting in the wings for a long time and he would look to grab his opportunity with both hands in ODIs.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel have also named Ruturaj Gaikwad in the ODI squad and he can also be an option for opening. 

Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “Shubman Gill is not there, and he has been India’s most important batter in recent years, especially in ODIs where his averages and performances have been outstanding. So the question now is: who will replace him? Yashasvi Jaiswal has a big opportunity here. Ruturaj Gaikwad has also returned, which is good to see because his performances for India A against South Africa were rewarded. His List A average is excellent. He too has an opportunity if he is picked, but I feel Yashasvi Jaiswal will get the first chance.”

Pathan said left and right-hand batting combination will help the Indian team.

“He is already in the team, he was in the squad earlier as well, and there has been a lot of discussion around him. In my opinion, if you have a right-hand/left-hand combination with the new ball, and if Yashasvi Jaiswal, a left-hander, settles into that role, it will be very good for India. When the ball swings early on, this combination becomes important. Also, Jaiswal is the kind of batter who, if he gets set in ODIs, can score a double century or a big hundred. He has that ability and plays both pace and spin very well. So these three matches are a huge opportunity for Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has played only one ODI so far, and I believe this format could become his favourite going forward,” he added.

The former swing bowler said Rishabh Pant is likely to bat at number four and he can also take the wicket-keeping gloves.

“The openers are likely to be Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli looks like a solid pick for number three as well. But the question will be about number four. Will Rishabh Pant play, or will Tilak Varma get the opportunity? Rishabh Pant, as a wicketkeeper and batter, is likely to feature at number four.”

The first ODI between India and South Africa will be played at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, on Sunday.

Squad: KL Rahul (c/wk), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel