Virat Kohli, the run machine, has become an indispensable asset for Team India in all formats of the game. His unrivalled record speaks for itself. However, the Indian legend is currently going through the roughest patch of his career. His runs have dried up, and the wait for the 71st century from the animated cricketer is getting prolonged. Meanwhile, team India is trying out the options which can fill in place of Virat Kohli when he ultimately decides to hang up his boots. New cricketing talent is emerging in India, with the likes of Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Suryakumar Yadav taking centre stage. The Indian Premier League has helped India uncover exciting talents who can replace Virat Kohli. However, a batter of Kohli’s calibre who can replicate the same success in all formats is still hard to find. Here we have chosen 6 Indian players who could replace Virat Kohli in the future.
1- Shubman Gill
The batting prodigy is hailed by cricketing experts all over the world. Similar to Kohli, Gill has all the shots in his book. He can play both aggressive and defensive cricket as per the situation’s demand. Gill is slowly becoming a regular in India’s Test cricket side. Many believe that his ideal spot would be the number four batting position when Virat Kohli retires. He has the ability to keep one end secure while others bat around him. Team India has not given many chances to Shubman Gill in ODIs, but it is expected that sooner or later, he will become a regular for the Indian team in all formats. He is perhaps the ideal replacement for Kohli.
Also Read: 6 Indian Players Who Deserve Chances in Limited Overs format
2- Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad is a player of a class who depends on timing to perfect his shots. He has been phenomenal in the IPL and recently proved himself by scoring a blazing half-century in the T20i against South Africa. Gaikwad is ideal as an opener in ODIs and T20is because he requires time to get set before going after the bowlers. His approach is somewhat similar to Kohli’s in the shorter format when he was in his prime. Gaikwad has not yet made his debut for India in the whites, but the cricketer has all the qualities to shine in that format.
3- Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi, a player who just got his first international call-up for the T20i series against Ireland, is included in our list due to the skills that he has showcased many times in the Indian Premier League. His counterattacking approach in the game’s shortest format makes him an ideal batter to be positioned at number three. Tripathi can take the game away from an opponent in just a blink of an eye. Rahul is already 31 years old, but there are at least 5-6 years of cricket left in him. And we believe that the Indian selectors will always refrain from including him in the Test squad. He can serve as the perfect replacement for Kohli in T20is and ODIs.
Also Read: 7 Players of Indian Cricket Who Will Dominate in 2030
4- Sanju Samson
There is something about Sanju Samson’s batting that makes people admire his shots. His hitting game is second to none in cricket. He believes in scoring fast and quickly for his team. Similar to Kohli, Samson hates wasting balls. He also has good leadership skills, which he has shown in the IPL. Samson can fill the place of Kohli in T20is and ODIs. Indian selectors need to show their faith in their skills to let the talent of this cricketer blossom at the international level.
5- Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari has confirmed his place in India’s Test squad for the last year or so. He is the perfect example of grit and determination. His knock in Australia, which saved the Test match for India in 2021, showed that he possesses the same fighting spirit as former Indian captain Virat Kohli. Once Kohli retires, Hanuma can be slotted at number four in Test cricket to take command of the Indian batting line-up. According to many cricketing experts, Hanuma has one of the most solid defences in the current squad.
6- Rishabh Pant
Here is a name that you may have been waiting for. Rishabh Pant has taken the cricketing world by storm in the past couple of years. He has done exceptionally well for India and is now even captaining the Indian side in the absence of senior players. Pant has shown that he has the leadership skills that are as good as his batting abilities. Needless to say, there is always room for improvement, and Pant will need to improve a lot to replace Virat Kohli in the India squad in all formats.
Also Read: 5 Best Replacements for Virat Kohli in T20 Cricket
