Wasim Jaffer names Virat Kohli’s ODI successor at No 3, says it’s not Shubman Gill

Advertisement

New Delhi: India legend Wasim Jaffer backs Tilak Varma as No. 3 replacement for Virat Kohli Former India cricketer in ODIs. Wasim Jaffer has supported Tilak Varma to fill in the No. 3 spot in the Indian batting line-up after Kohli is set to hang up his boots.

Wasim Jaffer spoke in support of the southpaw during the conclusion of India’s Asian Games campaign. Jaffer noted the flexibility which Tilak has shown while batting at different spots which is why he thinks the young batter can take Kohli’s No. 3 spot someday.

Tilak bats at No. 6 in the final against the Asian Games Tilak scored an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls as India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to clinch the gold medal.

Jaffer said it was encouraging to see Tilak is versatile and has shown the ability to score a lot of runs at No.3 as well as adjust to No.7. “His first-class average is around 55 and he is a versatile player who can play in all four formats,” he said.

Advertisement

Kohli will be 37 by the time 2027 ODI World Cup comes around and he has already revealed it will be his final World Cup. So with him certain to step away from the 50-overs format, who will be the man to fill the void? There are a host of names in the ring, including Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, but Jaffer is backing Tilak.

Tilak is already a known quantity in the Indian T20I setup, being part of the country’s 2026 T20 World Cup-winning team. However, his record in ODIs is sparse at just five games played for India, and he is yet to make his Test debut.

Positions vacated by Kohli in India’s current ODI squad against West Indies are filled by Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and in T20Is he is replaced by Tilak Varma. A blend of veteran and youngsters should give India plenty to choose from going into a post-Kohli era.

Also Read: IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: A look at Rohit-Virat’s stunning one-day record in Guwahati

Advertisement