There is something interesting about Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
They are both young by Indian cricket’s standards, both have already played some memorable Test innings, and both are expected to be part of India’s batting core for years. Yet, despite being spoken about as a natural opening combination, their Test careers have taken slightly different routes.
Jaiswal is now India’s established Test opener.
Gill, meanwhile, has moved into the No. 3 position in Test cricket and is leading the side. In the current Sri Lanka series, Jaiswal has opened alongside KL Rahul, while Gill has come in at first down. The official squad and recent match line-ups confirm that this is how India are currently structuring their Test top order.
That detail is worth clearing up at the beginning because the Gill-Jaiswal opening pair is more of a developing idea and a limited-overs combination than India’s current Test opening partnership.
But that does not make the story any less interesting.
In fact, it may make it more interesting.
Because when these two eventually bat together at the top, India will have something quite rare: a left-right pair with very different personalities at the crease, but enough understanding of each other’s game to potentially build something special.
We have already seen glimpses of it.
And the latest developments in Sri Lanka have only added another layer to the conversation.
Two very different batters, one very similar ambition
Gill and Jaiswal did not arrive at international cricket in the same way.
Gill was identified as a special batting talent from a very young age. His game was polished, technically sound and built around timing. Jaiswal’s journey was far less conventional. He came through Mumbai cricket after moving there from Uttar Pradesh and had to fight his way into the professional game.
Their batting styles are different too.
Gill is usually at his best when he has time to settle. His cover drives, back-foot punches and ability to rotate the strike make him look comfortable when the innings starts to slow down.
Jaiswal is more instinctive.
He likes to put pressure on the bowler early. He is willing to use his feet against spin, attack the gaps and take on the field before the opposition has settled.
Put the two together and you get a left-right combination with different gears.
That is what makes the idea so appealing.
But India’s current Test setup has Gill at No. 3
This is where the modern story around the pair becomes slightly complicated.
When India first gave Jaiswal his Test debut in 2023, Gill moved down to No. 3 because Rohit Sharma remained at the top. The ICC noted at the time that Jaiswal would open while Gill moved down the order.
There was another brief glimpse of Gill and Jaiswal opening together during India’s 2023 West Indies tour, but it was not a permanent arrangement.
The combination became much more talked about in 2024, particularly in T20 cricket, when India were moving towards a younger generation of batters.
There was a feeling that Gill and Jaiswal could eventually become India’s long-term left-right opening combination.
That idea still has plenty of appeal.
But Test cricket has gone in a slightly different direction.
KL Rahul has continued to provide India with an experienced option at the top, while Gill has taken over the captaincy and settled into the No. 3 role.
And, at least for now, India appear comfortable with that arrangement.
The warm-up match gave us another glimpse
Before the current Sri Lanka Test series, Gill and Jaiswal did get an opportunity to bat together at the top.
During India’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo, Gill returned from a finger injury and joined Jaiswal in the chase. The pair put together a 105-run opening partnership, with Jaiswal making 61 and Gill scoring 44.
It was only a practice game, so nobody should read too much into the numbers.
But it was useful for another reason.
Gill had missed the opening part of the warm-up after hurting his right ring finger in training. He returned to bat at the top alongside Jaiswal and looked comfortable enough to allay concerns about his fitness before the Galle Test.
For India, that was probably more important than the partnership itself.
The captain was fit.
Jaiswal was finding rhythm.
And the two players got some time together in Sri Lankan conditions.
Then Galle changed the conversation again
When the first Test arrived, India went back to their more established Test structure.
Jaiswal opened with KL Rahul.
Gill came in at No. 3.
Jaiswal started positively and reached 32 from 37 balls before a bizarre run-out ended his innings. He was involved in a mix-up with Rahul while attempting a single and collided with Sri Lankan bowler Keshara Nuwantha, leaving both Indian batters at the same end.
It was an unfortunate end to what had looked like a promising start.
Gill did not fare much better with the bat in the first innings, making 16 before being dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya.
But neither performance tells the full story of where these two stand.
The bigger picture is that India won the Test by 165 runs, went 1-0 up in the series and now have a chance to complete a clean sweep in Colombo.
And heading into the second Test, both Gill and Jaiswal are being talked about as players who need a substantial contribution.
Recent reports have specifically highlighted the expectation around a big innings from both batters as India look to secure their first overseas Test series win since 2023.
Jaiswal’s biggest strength is also something he has to control
There is no question about Jaiswal’s attacking ability.
The bigger question has always been when to attack.
That distinction is becoming increasingly important as his Test career develops.
Jaiswal has already shown that he can score at a rapid pace against some of the world’s best attacks. But in Sri Lanka, where the ball can start turning and the pitch can change as the match progresses, the best time to score aggressively may also be the time when patience is most valuable.
That was one of the major talking points before the current series.
Jaiswal’s challenge was described as finding the right balance between attack and defence rather than simply reducing his aggression.
That is probably the next stage of his development.
He doesn’t need to become a defensive opener.
That would take away one of his greatest strengths.
He simply needs to become better at recognising when the bowler is vulnerable and when the bowler is actually trying to tempt him into a mistake.
Gill’s game is built around a different kind of control
Gill can attack too.
Sometimes people forget that because his batting looks so smooth.
There is a difference between being aggressive and looking aggressive.
Gill often does the damage without appearing to force anything.
He can wait for the bowler to stray and then punish the delivery. He can use the crease against spin. He can accelerate without dramatically changing his technique.
That makes him a useful No. 3.
If Jaiswal and Rahul give India a fast start, Gill can come in and keep the momentum going.
If India lose an early wicket, he can slow things down and rebuild.
That flexibility is one reason India have been comfortable with him at first drop.
Headingley showed how well they can complement each other
One of the best examples of the Gill-Jaiswal combination came during the first Test against England in 2025.
Jaiswal and Gill came together after India lost KL Rahul and debutant Sai Sudharsan in quick succession.
Instead of allowing England to take control, the pair rebuilt the innings and added 129 runs.
Jaiswal eventually made 101, while Gill went on to score 127 not out on the opening day.
That partnership was not an opening stand.
And that is important.
But it showed what the two can do when they are batting together.
Jaiswal brought the pressure.
Gill provided the stability.
The partnership worked because neither batter was trying to play the other’s role.
That is exactly what you want from two players who could become central to India’s batting future.
Their communication is another underrated part of the partnership
After that Headingley partnership, Jaiswal spoke about the importance of communication between the two.
Their plan was relatively simple: take it session by session, bat for a long time and make the most of loose deliveries.
That sounds almost too basic.
But Test cricket is often won through simple plans executed better than the opposition.
Gill and Jaiswal don’t need to constantly talk in the middle.
They just need to understand what the other batter is trying to do.
If Jaiswal attacks one bowler, Gill does not need to match him.
If Gill starts dominating, Jaiswal does not need to manufacture a boundary.
That balance can make a partnership difficult to bowl to.
Left hand and right hand is still a big advantage
There is a reason Indian cricket has always loved successful left-right combinations.
The bowler has to change his line.
The wicketkeeper has to adjust his position.
The field changes.
The captain has to think about matchups.
And, against spin, the angles can become particularly awkward.
Jaiswal being left-handed and Gill being right-handed gives India that natural variation.
It is not a magic formula, of course.
Good bowlers can handle it.
But over a long Test innings, constantly changing the angle can make a difference.
India have enjoyed several successful left-right combinations over the years, and the Gill-Jaiswal pairing has naturally been viewed as another possible long-term version of that model. That comparison was already being made when the pair’s opening partnership was discussed as a possible new era for Indian cricket in 2024.
Jaiswal brings the aggression Gill doesn’t always need to show
This is perhaps the most exciting part of the combination.
Jaiswal can change the tempo of a Test match very quickly.
A few boundaries can force the captain to move fielders back.
That creates singles.
Singles create gaps.
The bowler changes his line.
Suddenly the batter at the other end gets a different ball.
Gill is very good at taking advantage of that.
He does not necessarily need to create the chaos himself.
If Jaiswal has already unsettled the attack, Gill can pick off the loose deliveries.
That makes the combination more than simply “left-hander plus right-hander.”
Their personalities at the crease are different too.
Gill gives Jaiswal something equally valuable
The relationship works in the other direction.
Jaiswal’s attacking instinct can sometimes bring risk.
Gill’s calmer approach can provide a reference point.
That doesn’t mean Gill needs to tell Jaiswal how to bat.
It simply means that having someone at the other end who is comfortable playing long innings can reduce the pressure to keep scoring.
Jaiswal has spoken in the past about learning from senior players and using conversations to understand situations better. His own approach has been to prepare thoroughly and then trust his instincts when the moment arrives.
That combination of preparation and freedom is becoming a major part of his game.
The numbers show how quickly both have developed
The current career comparison is already impressive.
Gill has accumulated more Test runs because he has played more matches, but Jaiswal has the higher career Test batting average.
Recent career figures list Gill at 2,843 Test runs at 43.07, with 10 centuries, while Jaiswal has 2,511 runs at 49.23, with seven centuries.
Those numbers need context.
Gill has played more Tests.
Jaiswal has had a shorter international career.
Their roles have also been different.
Gill has spent time batting at No. 3 and has now taken over the captaincy, while Jaiswal has largely been an opener.
So simply comparing averages does not tell you who is the better batter.
It does show something else, though.
Both are already producing at a level that suggests they can become long-term pillars of India’s Test batting.
Jaiswal has already shown he can travel
This is an important part of his development.
Jaiswal’s reputation was not built only on runs at home.
He scored 161 in Perth during India’s 2024-25 tour of Australia, making a major contribution to India’s famous victory in the first Test there. He also became the first Indian batter to score a century on his first Test appearance in both Australia and England when he reached three figures at Headingley in 2025.
That matters because India’s future Test schedule will demand runs away from home.
Sri Lanka is another opportunity.
Although his 32 in Galle ended frustratingly, Jaiswal’s ability to adapt to Asian conditions will remain an important part of his development.
Gill has also moved into the leadership phase of his career
This is where the comparison becomes particularly fascinating.
Gill is no longer simply being judged as a young batter.
He is India’s Test captain.
That brings an entirely different layer of responsibility.
He has to think about the batting order, bowling changes, field placements and the wider rhythm of the match.
Yet he is still expected to produce big runs.
The early signs have been encouraging.
During his first Test as captain at Headingley in 2025, he scored a century and helped India recover after early setbacks. His leadership and batting became central to the team’s new post-Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli era.
That means Gill’s role is now bigger than his own batting position.
He is helping shape the team that Jaiswal is also expected to lead in the future.
They are not really rivals
The “Gill vs Jaiswal” comparison makes for a good headline, but inside the Indian team, it makes little sense to treat them as direct competitors.
India need both.
The bigger question is where each player fits best.
Jaiswal’s strongest case is at the top.
Gill’s current role at No. 3 gives India a batter who can protect the middle order while still playing positively.
If both continue to perform, there is no reason India cannot build their Test batting around them.
The competition is more likely to be for roles than for places.
What about the long-term opening combination?
This is where things could change.
KL Rahul is still India’s vice-captain and an important Test batter. He scored 82 in the first innings of the Galle Test and remains a key part of India’s current structure.
But Test cricket is about planning beyond the next series.
At some point, India will have to think about the next phase of the opening position.
Jaiswal looks like one half of that future already.
The question is whether Gill eventually moves back up.
That could happen if the team decides that the best long-term combination is Jaiswal and Gill at the top, with another batter taking No. 3.
Or India could continue with Jaiswal opening and Gill at No. 3 for years.
There is no need to make that decision today.
And that flexibility is actually a strength.
The biggest thing India should avoid
India should avoid forcing the Gill-Jaiswal opening partnership simply because it looks attractive on paper.
If Gill is thriving at No. 3 and Jaiswal is thriving as an opener, there is no reason to change the arrangement.
Cricket is not a spreadsheet.
The best combination is not always the one with the most exciting names.
It is the one that gives the team the best chance of winning.
At present, India appear to believe that Jaiswal-Rahul-Gill gives them the right balance in Test cricket.
The current Sri Lanka series supports that view.
India won the Galle Test by 165 runs and head into the Colombo Test with a chance to complete a 2-0 series win.
Colombo could be a chance for both to make a statement
The second Test at the SSC begins on August 23.
Both Gill and Jaiswal have a reason to want a big score.
Jaiswal made only 32 in Galle, while Gill scored 16 in the first innings. Neither had the kind of contribution they would have wanted.
The conditions in Colombo could offer them another opportunity.
Sri Lanka’s batting has also been weakened by injuries to Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Pathum Nissanka, which means India will enter the Test as favourites.
For Jaiswal, the focus will again be on balancing aggression with patience.
For Gill, it is about leading from No. 3 while managing the demands of captaincy.
If both score heavily, India’s chances of completing the clean sweep become even stronger.
Who is the more complete Test batter right now?
This is where things get subjective.
If you are looking for natural aggression, Jaiswal probably gets the nod.
If you are looking for batting versatility and the ability to adapt to different positions, Gill has the edge.
If you are looking at career average, Jaiswal currently leads.
If you are looking at total Test runs and centuries, Gill leads because he has played more matches.
If you are asking who is more important to India’s future, the honest answer is: both.
There is no need to choose one.
India’s best version of the next decade could involve both players scoring heavily together.
Their best cricket may still be ahead of them
That is the exciting part.
Gill is still only 26.
Jaiswal is 24.
They have already played international cricket in England, Australia and Asia. They have experienced pressure, failure, big hundreds and the expectations that come with playing for India.
But neither is close to the end of their prime.
There is still plenty of technical development ahead.
There will be difficult tours.
There will be changes in their games.
There will be periods when one scores more than the other.
That is normal.
The real test is whether they can keep improving.
A partnership that could define India’s next era
Indian cricket has had several opening combinations that became part of the country’s cricketing identity.
Gavaskar and Chauhan.
Ganguly and Sehwag.
Gambhir and Sehwag.
Dhawan and Rohit.
Each pair had its own personality.
Gill and Jaiswal are not there yet.
It would be premature to put them in the same historical conversation.
But the ingredients are there.
One is elegant and measured.
The other is fearless and aggressive.
One is now the Test captain.
The other is already one of India’s most exciting young openers.
Both are comfortable scoring at different tempos.
And both have shown that they can produce big innings outside India.
That is enough to make the possibility worth watching.
Final verdict
Calling Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal India’s current Test opening pair would be slightly misleading.
Right now, Jaiswal is opening with KL Rahul, while Gill is batting at No. 3 and captaining the Test side. That is the combination India are using in the Sri Lanka series.
But the idea of Gill and Jaiswal opening together has not disappeared.
If anything, the warm-up match in Colombo gave us another glimpse of how naturally they can complement each other. Their 105-run opening stand was a small reminder of what India could have at the top of the order in the future.
For now, though, there is no reason to rush the change.
Jaiswal needs to keep developing the judgement that will turn his natural aggression into consistent Test dominance.
Gill needs to continue growing as a captain while maintaining the batting standards that have made him one of India’s most important players.
And India need to make sure they get the best out of both.
Because the real story isn’t Gill vs Jaiswal.
It is Gill and Jaiswal.
Two different batters.
Two different paths.
One generation that India will hope can carry their Test batting for many years to come.
And if the two eventually do become India’s regular opening pair, the combination could be one of the most exciting left-right partnerships in world Test cricket.
