Former Indian captain and seasoned batter Virat Kohli stated in a recent interview that the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup will be his last for India. It is worth noting that the 37-year-old Virat Kohli had previously retired from T20 International cricket after winning the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Currently, he plays for India only in the ODI format. Consequently, with the ‘Chase Master’ set to retire, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s name has come up as a potential successor for the number three spot. However, former Indian batting stalwart Wasim Jaffer holds a slightly different view.
Jaffer considers Tilak Varma a strong contender to take over the number three position once Virat Kohli steps away from ODI cricket. He cites Varma’s technical prowess and his ability to bat at various positions as key factors that make him a suitable candidate to fill the void left by one of India’s greatest batters.
Tilak Varma a strong contender to take over the number three position once Virat Kohli steps away from ODI cricket – Wasim Jaffer
Speaking recently on his YouTube channel, Jaffer said, “It is great to see his [Tilak Varma’s] multi-format talent. He previously scored a century at number three and has now adapted beautifully to the number five and six positions. That is a great quality.”
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Jaffer added, “The time is right. When Virat and Rohit leave the team—obviously, Rohit is a top-order batter and Yashasvi Jaiswal is there to replace him—I feel a left-handed batter will step into Virat’s spot. He has the capability. We saw how he scored runs in the Duleep Trophy; his first-class average is around 55. Therefore, he can easily fit into all three formats.”
