With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma nearing the twilight of their careers, attention has turned to India’s batting depth and its ability to manage a major transition. While many youngsters have shown promise, questions remain over consistency and match-winning reliability in high-pressure games
Cricket fans during Team India's match (Pic: AFP)
In the recently concluded three-match ODI series against New Zealand, India’s batting performances once again underlined the team’s heavy dependence on its two senior stalwarts — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While the pair has carried the batting unit for over a decade across formats, the series reignited questions over whether Team India is adequately prepared for a future where both are no longer at the helm.
Virat Kohli: How will India find a replacement for a modern-day great?
Virat Kohli has been a consistent top performer for the Men in Blue over the years. Whether it is setting a target or chasing a daunting total, Kohli has delivered with remarkable ease. From producing match-winning performances at the highest level to absorbing pressure in marquee tournaments, the Delhi-born cricketer has repeatedly underlined his value to the team.
He has been an indispensable part of Team India, particularly in high-stakes matches against arch-rivals Pakistan. Kohli’s crucial knocks have helped India secure victories on numerous occasions. Across social media, fans often troll the Pakistan team for lacking a premier batsman capable of matching Kohli’s calibre in critical games.
However, the stalwart has only a few years left in him, after which he will hang up his boots from the game.
Team India stalwart Virat Kohli (Pic: AFP)
After Kohli, the question arises: does India have a batsman it can truly rely on? Several players, including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Abhishek Sharma, have delivered in big matches, but whether any can match Kohli’s consistency over the years remains uncertain.
Rohit Sharma: Filling the void at the top of India’s batting
Fans often troll Rohit Sharma for the failure of India’s opening batting pair. But who will they blame once the 38-year-old steps away from the game? So far, having played 282 ODI matches for Team India, Rohit has scored 11,577 runs. He also has 33 centuries and 61 half-centuries to his name in the format. The right-handed batsman also holds the record of the highest individual score in the format's history, which is 264 runs.
Cricket fans across India know that once both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire, the team will face a major transition. A cautionary example is West Indies cricket, which dominated the world during the era of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, and Darren Sammy. Today, however, West Indies cricket is struggling to maintain its former glory.
Similarly, is India ready to bid adieu to its ‘Chase Master’, Virat Kohli? And is the country’s opening slot in safe hands once Rohit Sharma announces his retirement?
Hopefully, the young players will step up and shoulder the responsibilities that these two modern-day greats have carried for years.
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