"Good opportunity for Gambhir to try out Varma or Jaiswal" - Former keeper's big statement on India's bowling for IND vs SA 2025 ODIs

Former keeper-batter Saba Karim reckons that the ODI series against South Africa is a good opportunity for India to play five bowlers and try out Yashasvi Jaiswal or Tilak Varma as the sixth bowling option. Karim pointed out that Varma has some experience of bowling in international cricket, while Jaiswal bowls frequently during Team India's practice sessions.

The first ODI of the three-match series between India and South Africa will be played at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. Under coach Gautam Gambhir, India have preferred going in which multidimensional players ahead of specialists across formats.

During an interaction on ESPNcricinfo, Karim opined that the three-match ODI series against South Africa is a good chance for the Indian team to try and develop Varma and Jaiswal as extra bowling options. He commented:

"Tilak Varma has rolled his arm over. Yashasvi Jaiswal, I have seen him practice, working hard on improving his bowling skills. Whenever there is a practice session, you always see Yashasvi Jaiswal bowl. So maybe this is a good opportunity for Gautam Gambhir to try out either Tilak Varma or Yashasvi Jaiswal as your part-time bowler as a sixth bowling option."

Jaiswal is yet to pick up a wicket in international cricket and has seven scalps in List A cricket. As for Varma, he has three wickets in T20Is and 10 in List A cricket.

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"He should have been a regular in the white-ball formats" - Saba Karim on Yashasvi Jaiswal

Although Jaiswal has been around the international scene for a few seasons now, he has only played one ODI game. Karim considers the southpaw a bit unlucky and believes that he should have played a lot more white-ball games for India.

"He should have been a regular in the white-ball formats for India, especially in one-day cricket. Unfortunately for him, that he is sitting out. These three ODIs will give him enough opportunities to do well for India and cement his place in the one-day side. It is such an exciting prospect to have Yashasvi Jaiswal in the XI in one-day cricket for India. Whenever there is an opportunity for him, he has done well," Karim said.

"He is the kind of batter whom I would love to see the Indian team management and the selectors invest more. Because he'll give you a rich dividend going forward, leading up to the World Cup," the former India selector concluded.

Jaiswal has played 33 List A matches so far and has scored 1,526 runs at an average of 52.62 and a strike rate of 85.97. The left-handed batter has smashed five hundreds and seven half-centuries, with a best of 203.