Not Ruturaj Gaikwad! Andy Flower names five young batters to replace Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli in T20I squad

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has selected five young Indian batters who carry forward the legacy of veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Andy Flower said that young batter Shubman Gill can play in a similar way to Virat Kohli, describing him as a very intelligent player.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20 internationals after the T20 World Cup 2024 final. The veteran cricketers ended their T20I careers on a high note as the Men in Blue secured a seven-run victory over South Africa in the summit clash in Barbados on June 29.

The retirement of senior players has opened the chance for youngsters to seal their berth in the T20I squad. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, picked a second-string squad for the Zimbabwe series. Shubman Gill was named captain for the first time in the absence of vice-captain Hardik Pandya.

He Is An Incredible Option - Andy Flower

Speaking to the Times of India, Andy Flower selected Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Abhishek Sharma, and Riyan Parag as potential replacements for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He praised Yashasvi Jaiswal as an incredible option despite not playing a single match in the T20 World Cup 2024.

"If I put my IPL coaching hat on, then I'll have to keep a keen watch on the players. (Yashasvi) Jaiswal didn't play a single match in the T20 World Cup but he is an incredible option. Shubman Gill, by his standards, had a quiet IPL but he looks a very intelligent player. He plays in a similar way to Virat Kohli," Flower told the Times of India.

"I'm looking forward to Abhishek Sharma performing. I really like the look of Dhruv Jurel. Watching him in the Test series against England, he did brilliantly. Riyan Parag has the swagger that you need in international cricket," he added.

There Are Readymade Replacements - Andy Flower

Andy Flower emphasized the strength of India's domestic cricket system in providing "readymade" replacements for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He acknowledged the initial challenge of filling such big shoes but expressed confidence in India's ability to continuously produce new talents.

"There are readymade replacements for the guys who've retired, even though they are genuinely great cricketers. The strong domestic structure in India means there will always be readymade replacements. It's certainly nothing to be scared of. India will keep producing these greats. There is always someone ready to come in. Whenever some of the great cricketers have retired, you think they won't be and cannot be replaced. But people move on very quickly. All eyes adjust and focus on the next talent that comes along."

The Shubman Gill-led team was stunned by Zimbabwe in the first T20I of the five-match series. The Indian team failed to chase down the below-par 116-run target at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Saturday, July 6. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill opened the batting, while Ruturaj Gaikwad batted at No. 3.

The second match between India and Zimbabwe will be played at the same venue on Sunday, July 7. Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dube, who were part of the T20 World Cup squad, will join the team before the third match in the series.

Also read: Surprised by Virat Kohli's T20I retirement, Andy Flower makes revelation on batter's behind-the-scenes act at RCB