IND vs SA 2022: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will be India’s openers in ODI World Cup – Saba Karim feels the selectors will back the experienced duo

Former Indian wicket-keeper batter Saba Karim believes the Indian selectors will back the experienced duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in the ODI World Cup 2023. Dhawan now only plays in the 50-over version of the game and he has been doing a fine job for the team.

The southpaw is currently leading India in the ODI series against South Africa and he has been filling the leadership role in the ODI team in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

Dhawan and Rohit are one of the most successful opening pairs in the current generation and they have delivered for the team while batting at the top of the order. The duo has all the experience under their belt and their record in major events is second to none.

“Shikhar Dhawan’s place in the team has been confirmed. There’s no need to put pressure on him all the time. There will be one or two matches where he won’t score runs. I think the selectors have decided that Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will be the openers in the next 50-over World Cup,” Saba Karim said on India News.

On the other hand, Karim reckons Shardul Thakur will find it difficult to find a spot in the main team as Hardik Pandya will be ahead of him in the pecking order.

“He is a very useful player. But Hardik Pandya is a batting all-rounder, while Shardul Thakur is a bowling all-rounder. That’s a big difference. We can surely groom Shardul. But I don’t see him becoming India’s No.1 of No.2 bowler in white-ball cricket. He can only play as a third seamer. If he can bat well, it will be an added advantage,” he said.

India had last won a major ICC trophy back in the 2013 Champions Trophy when MS Dhoni had led the team to glory. However, they haven’t been able to go all the way in the marquee events since then. Rohit Sharma and Co. will look to put paid to that trend in the upcoming T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup in 2023.