There are 4 choices: Dinesh Karthik picks Rohit & Kohli’s replacements for T20 World Cup 2026

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli played a huge role in helping India end their 17-year wait for a second T20 World Cup title last month. Following India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados on June 29, the duo announced their retirement from the shortest format of the game. Rohit ended his career as the leading run-scorer in T20Is, while Kohli holds the record for the most runs by a player in T20 World Cup history.

After the retirement of Rohit and Kohli, India has started preparations for the next T20 World Cup, which will be played in two years. The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played by India and Sri Lanka, and while there is still time to start, talks on who will replace Rohit and Kohli in the Indian team have already begun.

Many fans and experts believe that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill will be the long-term replacements for the star duo. Gill and Jaiswal have opened for India in the last three T20Is against Zimbabwe and have impressed with their batting, but the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad cannot be ignored either.

During a Cricbuzz show, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik was asked, “Who do you see in place of Rohit and Kohli in the next T20 World Cup?” and in response he named four names, while adding that Jaiswal will definitely be part of the starting line-up.

“First of all, they (Rohit and Kohli) are very difficult to replace, but in the XI, I think there are four choices right now. There is Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Shubman Gill.”

“I think Yashasvi Jaiswal will definitely be in the starting line-up in T20I cricket,” he added.

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Jaiswal was part of the Indian team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup title in West Indies and USA last month. However, he did not get a chance to play in any of the eight matches for the Men in Blue in the 20-team tournament.

The 22-year-old, who made his T20I debut last year, was in the Indian team for the last three T20Is against Zimbabwe earlier this month. He remained unbeaten with 93 runs from 53 balls in the fourth match, played on July 13 in Harare.

Jaiswal was part of the Indian team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup title in West Indies and USA last month. However, he did not get a chance to play in any of the eight matches for the Men in Blue in the 20-team tournament.

The 22-year-old, who made his T20I debut last year, was in the Indian team for the last three T20Is against Zimbabwe earlier this month. He remained unbeaten with 93 runs from 53 balls in the fourth match, played on July 13 in Harare.