ICC Champions Trophy: Rahul Tripathi and Gambhir ideal opening pair for India?

Rahul Tripathi has been one of the revelations in this 10th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This is what IPL does - it digs out raw talents out of nowhere.  Tripathi is one of the highest run-scorers in the IPL 2017 and he is the highest run-getter for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS). 

RPS have names like Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes and MS Dhoni. But Tripathi has managed to surpass all these players when it comes to getting runs for the side. The attacking right-handed batsman has notched up 352 runs in just nine matches at an average of 39.11, with two half-centuries. 

His innings of 93 runs from just 52 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday was the best knock he has played so far in this IPL. Tripathi has been firing just when it mattered the most. 

There's one more player who has impressed and that is none other than the KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir. The southpaw from Delhi ahs led his side from the front and has scored 411 runs in 11 matches at an average of 51.37, with four fifties. What a tournament this has been for the left-handed opening batsman. 

These statistics are suggestive of the fact that Indian skipper Virat Kohli might just consider these two as the opening pair for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2017. They have been hitting the ball really well and left-hand, right-hand combination is going to work fine as never before as well.

India might have just got their opening pair for the ICC Champions Trophy. With KL Rahul down and out with an injury, Rohit Sharma being out of form, Shikhar Dhawan also have done a decent job, but Kohli might just consider Tripathi and Gambhir to bring in more poise and attacking intent at the top of the order. 

• IPL 2017
• IPL
• Rahul Tripathi
• Gautam Gambhir
• ICC Champions Trophy