Top 5 Rohit Sharma replacements for Team India Test opening slot

Rohit Sharma stunned the cricketing world with his decision to retire from Test cricket recently. The 38-year-old took to his social media, where he posted a picture of his Test cap with a message. Rohit wrote, “Hello everyone, I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites.”

India’s ODI skipper also added, “Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI forma”t. Rohit made his Test debut in 2013 against West Indies in what was Sachin Tendulkar’s last series. The right-handed batter scored 177 in his debut game in Kolkata and followed it up with yet another tonne in Mumbai. 

After a tumultuous few years in the longest format, Rohit opened the batting for India for the first time in 2019. Over the next five years, the right-handed batter played key roles in many wins for India both at home and away. In 67 games for India, Rohit scored 4301 runs with 12 centuries and 18 fifties. As an opener, Rohit played 66 innings, scoring 2697 runs with nine centuries and eight fifties with an average of 42. 

Here are the top five batters who could replace Rohit Sharma as the opener in Test cricket 

5- Devdutt Padikkal 

Young batter Devdutt Padikkal made an impressive start to his Test career under Rohit Sharma, scoring a fifty on debut in Dharamshala. The 24-year-old is a compact batter with the ability to bat for long periods with unwavering concentration. Padikkal also has the ability to score runs at a decent pace, as seen during the recent IPL 2025 matches. Padikkal has been batting primarily as a middle-order batter but has opened the batting in the past and could be a great replacement for Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. 

4- Abhimanyu Eeswaran 

Considered one of the top performers in domestic cricket, Abhimanyu Eeswaran has been the pillar for Bengal over the last decade. The right-handed batter has already played over 100 first-class games and scored over 7000 runs with an average of 48. Eeswaran has also hit 27 centuries and 29 fifties to show his vast appetite for runs. India had included Eeswaran in the side for the Australian tour but the batter didn’t get a chance to make his Test debut. Selectors might be tempted to give the batter a chance to finally don the national colours in the coming tour of England as a replacement for Rohit Sharma. 

3- Sai Sudharsan 

Young batting sensation Sai Sudharsan can be an ideal choice to replace Rohit at the top of the order. The 23-year-old has been in tremendous form in the current IPL 2025 season with over 500 runs. Sudharsan has been a prominent run-scorer for Tamil Nadu ever since his debut in 2022. In his very first game, Sudharsan scored 179 and 42 against Hyderabad to be named man of the match. It is to be noted that Sudharsan is a naturally attacking batter but also can play the long waiting game to tire out the bowlers. 

2- Shubman Gill 

Having started his career as a Test opener, Shubman Gill might want to go back to the top of the order after Rohit’s retirement. Gill has opened 29 times in Test cricket, scoring 874 runs with two centuries and four half-centuries. Gill at the top of the order could continue the left- and right-hand combination India had with Rohit and Jaiswal. It will also give India a chance to play more aggressive cricket since Gill is a naturally attacking player. 

1- KL Rahul 

The best bet for India at the top of the order to replace Rohit Sharma is none other than KL Rahul. The 33-year-old opened the batting for India in the Australian series and formed a great opening stand with young Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was KL Rahul who was dropped in 2019 to make way for Rohit Sharma as an opener. Rahul has opened on 83 occasions in the Test format, scoring 2803 runs with seven tonnes and 14 fifties. Rahul averages 35 as an opener with a best of 199 that came against England in 2016.