3 Indian Players Who Can Replace Rohit Sharma As India's Opener Once He Retires

Updated - 16 Dec 2022, 05:13 PM

Rohit Sharma, (Image Credits: Twitter)

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3 Indian Players Who Can Replace Rohit Sharma As India’s Opener Once He Retires. Rohit Sharma, the current all-format skipper, may retire from T20Is soon as his age is 35 years. As far as ODIs and Tests are concerned, he may retire from both formats within 3 years or so. But as he has many records as an opener, it will be extremely tough for a player to fill his shoes.

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: Twitter)

The likes of Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, and Devdutt Padikkal are the frontrunners in the less than 30-year-old cricketer bracket to replace opener Rohit Sharma once he retires from international cricket. The likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, and KL Rahul have opened for India in the past but all are in the age bracket of 30 – 38 years.

3 Indian Players Who Can Replace Rohit Sharma As India’s Opener Once He Retires

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan is an emerging wicketkeeper-batsman and opener for the Indian team. He could not grab a spot in T20 World Cup 2022 but was part of the last edition- T20 World Cup 2021. He has played 21 T20I games so far and slammed 589 runs at an average of 29.45.

At a strike rate of around 130, the left-handed batsman has also slammed 4 fifties in the shortest format. Being a hard-hitting batsman, Ishan Kishan will be a good choice to replace Rohit Sharma as an opener once he retires. The keeper has also played 10 ODIs where he amassed 477 runs averaging 53 with 3 fifties and a double ton in his last ODI.

Young Ishan Kishan got his chance in the third and final inconsequential ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram against Bangladesh after captain Rohit Sharma was ruled out due to an injury. Ishan Kishan eventually perished for 210 off 131 balls. His innings was laced with 10 sixes and 24 boundaries. Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan also stitched a record 290-run stand.

Ishan Kishan became the fourth Indian to hit a double hundred in ODI cricket. He joined the likes of Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. Ishan Kishan completed the 200 in just 126 deliveries, which is now the fastest double-hundred ever scored. He was the first batter to convert his maiden ODI 100 to 200.

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw has played only 5 Tests, 6 ODIs, and 1 T20I and has amassed 339 runs averaging 42.37 in Tests and 189 runs averaging 31.5 in ODIs. He has been repeatedly overlooked for the Indian team but once Rohit Sharma retires and KL Rahul is dropped for poor form, the 23-year-old opener may get a chance to play for India again under the new group of selectors.

Prithvi Shaw last played for India in July on Sri Lanka 2021 tour and was out for a first-ball duck on his T20I debut (the only T20I he played). He has played 6 ODIs, scoring 189 runs and 5 Tests with 339 runs with one century to his name.

Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill was Man of the series in the ODI series against West Indies and Zimbabwe where he amassed 205 and 245 runs respectively averaging 102.5 and 122.5. He averages 61.27 after playing 14 ODIs amassing 674 runs with 1 ton and 4 fifties at a strike rate of 100.45.

He hit his maiden century- a career-best 130 against Zimbabwe after scoring 98* against West Indies when rain intervened and he was denied a ton. He may replace opener Rohit Sharma after his retirement. He is yet to debut in T20Is but has played 11 Tests before the ongoing one against Bangladesh where he smashed his maiden Test ton (110).

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2021 T20 World Cup 2022 T20 World Cup India National Cricket Team India vs Bangladesh 2022 India vs Sri Lanka 2021 India vs West Indies 2022 India vs Zimbabwe 2022 Indian National Cricket Team Ishan Kishan KL Rahul Mayank Agarwal Prithvi Shaw Rishabh Pant Rohit Sharma Ruturaj Gaikwad Sachin Tendulkar Sanju Samson Shikhar Dhawan Shubman Gill Virat Kohli Virender Sehwag Yashasvi Jaiswal