Online Sports Desk
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes Tilak Varma could be the ideal candidate to replace Virat Kohli at No. 3 in India’s ODI batting order after the 2027 World Cup.
Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 edition will be his last ODI World Cup for India, leaving the team with a major vacancy in the top order — one that the team hasn’t had to worry about for about 15 years. Jaffer believes Tilak has the game to take over the position, pointing to his versatility, ability to bat at different positions in T20Is and first-class record.
“It feels great to see his versatility. He previously scored a century at No. 3, and now he has adapted to the No. 5 and No. 6 positions so beautifully. This is an amazing quality,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
“It’s about time. When Virat and Rohit leave, Rohit, obviously, is a top-order batter, and Yashasvi Jaiswal is there to replace him, but I feel there will be a left-handed batter in Virat’s place. He has that game; we saw the way he scored runs in the Duleep Trophy. His first-class average is around 55. So, he can fit into all three formats pretty easily,” he added.
Tilak has only played four ODIs for India, batting twice at number three and once each at four and five, to score 68 runs at an average of 22.67. His last ODI came in December 2025 against South Africa, the same series where Ruturaj Gaikwad played at number four and scored a century.
Apart from Tilak and Gaikwad, India would also have the option of shifting Gill to number three. He was initially an opener in Test cricket but took Kohli’s number-four spot and did superbly well.
Replacing Kohli would not be an easy job. Anyone who’s chosen for it would carry the responsibility of being the ‘next’ in line to not just him but also Sachin Tendulkar, and will need to manage the expectations.
