3 Potential replacements for Rohit Sharma as T20I opener

Following India’s historic win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, two modern-day greats - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli - announced their retirements from the shorter format of the game. "No better time to say goodbye," Rohit said during the post-match press conference after leading India to their second T20 World Cup title.

Rohit is one of the finest openers in limited-overs cricket and his absence in the 20-over format will be a huge loss for the Men in Blue. He is currently the all-time leading run-scorer in this format – 4231 runs in 159 matches. However, this is part and parcel of the game and India have built a solid bench strength over the years to fill the big void.

Also Read: World Champion skipper Rohit Sharma's emotional sign-off from T20Is

Let's take a look at three players who can replace Rohit Sharma as opener:

3. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is one of the strong contenders to take up the role. Gill has not been able to cement his place in the Indian T20 XI with Yashasvi Jaiswal's huge strides. But it will not be surprising if he returns to the team as a replacement for Rohit. The 24-year-old has performed well for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and could also be considered as a captaincy option in the future.

Also Check: The Moment Of Team India lifting second T20 World Cup title after 17 long years

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad has played only a limited number of matches for India and has failed to maintain consistency. But with his performance in IPL 2024, he knocked on the door of the national selectors. In his maiden assignment as the Chennai Super Kings captain, the right-hander led the team from the front with 583 runs in 14 matches, including four half-centuries. 

1. Abhishek Sharma

If India are going to embrace the future of T20 cricket - an aggressive style - Abhishek Sharma is the best candidate. The young lad can give blistering starts like Rohit Sharma with his scintillating big-hits. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2024, the southpaw amassed 484 runs at a staggering strike rate of 204.22, including three half-centuries. He was one of the main reasons why SRH finished as runners-up in the tournament.