As two of India’s greatest cricketers of all time, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, approach the final stages of their careers, fans have been pondering on who will fill their shoes following their retirement.
With Rohit now 37 and Kohli turning 36 in November, the end of their career is nearing and with a need for transition in the Indian cricket team.
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Recently, former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla shared his thoughts on who could take on this massive responsibility. During a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, Chawla pointed out two young players as the future stars of Indian cricket.
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Who will replace Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Indian team after their retirements?
Piyush Chawla picked Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad as future replacements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He spoke highly of both Gill and Gaikwad, calling them “special players” who are capable of leading Indian cricket after Rohit and Kohli retire.
“Shubman Gill—because of his technique. Whenever one goes through poor form, a batter who is technically strong can come out of it. Any batter who has a good technique cannot stay out of form for too long. So, Shubman Gill for sure and Ruturaj Gaikwad”
Question- Are The Next Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Of Indian Cricket?
Piyush Chawla – Shubman Gill & Ruturaj Gaikwad.
(Gill’s strong technique helps him bounce back from bad form quickly. Similarly, Rutu shows his class every time he gets a chance.)#RohitSharma #ViratKohli… pic.twitter.com/pN3h8OY4ER— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) September 12, 2024
Shubman Gill, at just 25 years old, has already made a strong impact in international cricket. He has played 25 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 21 T20Is, and scored over 4,000 runs across all formats, including multiple centuries.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad, though slightly less experienced with 6 ODIs and 23 T20Is, has still shown his potential, particularly in the domestic circuit and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Despite facing injuries and selection issues, Chawla praised the CSK captain’s resilience and consistency.
“Whenever he has got the opportunity, he has looked different [from the rest of the batters]. For me, these two players are special,” Chawla said on Gaikwad
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli nearing the end of their careers, Indian cricket looks to the future with hope. Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad, as highlighted by Piyush Chawla, are seen as the natural successors of the ageing, star cricketers.