Photo via The Times of India

'It’s about time': Jaffer backs left-haned batter as Kohli's replacement at No.3

Former cricketer Wasim Jaffer has suggested that Tilak Varma could succeed Virat Kohli at the number three position in the national one-day squad following the upcoming global tournament in 2027. Kohli recently indicated that the 2027 event will mark his final appearance in the fifty-over showcase, leaving a significant opening that has remained unchanged for about fifteen years.

Jaffer pointed to the youngster's adaptability across different batting slots in the shortest format and his strong domestic red-ball statistics as key indicators of his potential.

In addition to Varma, Jaffer mentioned that Yashasvi Jaiswal could step into the opening role once Rohit Sharma departs, pointing out the left-hander's impressive fifty-five average in first-class cricket and his recent performances in the Duleep Trophy. Varma currently holds limited experience in the fifty-over format, having featured in only four matches and accumulating sixty-eight runs since his debut.

His most recent appearance in this format occurred in December 2025 during a tour of South Africa, where teammate Ruturaj Gaikwad secured a century while batting at number four.

Up nextCricket· 5h ago

Virat Kohli's No. 3 successor? Jaffer backs Indian left-hander to replace him