The new era of the Indian cricket team has begun. It is time to look past Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. These two superstars, along with Ravindra Jadeja, retired from the T20 internationals after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. So it is time to fill the role of these champions. The young Indian team is currently playing in Zimbabwe, and some of these players will play in the next T20 World Cup edition.
India have good options to choose from for the opening slots. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma are the contenders for the opening slot. But who will be the next No. 3 for India, who can take the game with him like Virat Kohli used to do in his career? A No. 3 position is very vital, especially when the conditions are more in favour of bowling. That’s where you need someone whom you can trust.
Who will be Virat Kohli’s successor at No. 3 in T20 Internationals among Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad?
Team India is looking to carry on the aggressive approach at the top. So there are chances that India might try Jaiswal and Abhishek at the top. Some can argue that both are left-handers, but these two bring the fearless approach to the top and can use the powerplay.
Then India need someone who can be the anchor and also change gears when needed. That’s where Gaikwad and Gill come to mind. These two aren’t hard-hitters but are more of concentional batters. They are good players of spin and pace, which can help during the middle overs. Both are also fast movers between the wickets, like Virat Kohli.
Only one of them can bat at No. 3. That’s where we think Gaikwad has an edge. He has batted in different positions in T20s. Recently, in the Maharastra Premier League, he batted at No. 3 and did pretty well. Even in the ongoing IND vs ZIM series, he is batting at No. 3. On the other hand, Gill has never batted at No. 3 in white-ball format. He tried it in Test and batted in pace of Chesteswar Pujara.
But in Indian conditions, he did well. However, Gill failed in overseas conditions. Adding to that, the T20I record of both these stars are pretty different. Gill has an below-par average of 27 in 17 T20Is with 434 runs while Gaikwad has an average close to 40 with 22 games. Both batters have scored one century each. So we believe Gaikwad can be a better suited option for Virat Kohli at No. 3 in T20Is.
