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Who will do Rohit Sharma’s test to Yashasvi Jaswal in England after retirement?

From 2019 to 2024, Rohit Sharma was India’s nominated opener in Test cricket, and it would not be easy to change it.

While the whole world appreciated Rohit Sharma, Test Cricketer and Captain, Control Board for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have to find a replacement for him. He has already decided on a ‘young leader’, who will probably be the captain of the India Cricket Team by the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, 2025-27.

But BCCI does not just need to find a leader, but also a opener. No one should forget that Rohit was probably the best opener since 2019, until his form slipped at the end of 2024. For some time, along with Rishabh Pant, he was also India’s best Test batsman. Their retirement is a two-face problem for BCCI.

Who can change Rohit Sharma as India’s second opener?

As mentioned, the board may already get the answer to the problem. But it is not easy to find a test opener. There are already some players in the team who can make Yashsvi Jaiswal a partner. And then we have someone who wanted to take BCCI as a backup opener for the India vs England Test series. These are potential replacement:

  • Shubman Gill
  • KL Rahul
  • Sai Sudhrasan

Case for Shubman Gill

Gill started his Test career as a opener. Even though he has infected in the position of Cheteshwar Pujara’s number three, half his innings came as a opener. Despite a great start, their number is not good. His record away from home as a opener is great, but his average increases when playing outside India (33.60).

Their technology has been detected. Given how far the ball moves in England, especially early, Gill Jaiswal’s partner may not be the best bet. Although He has played only 3 matches in England, his average is just 14.66. He did not cross 30 in 6 innings.

Shubman Gill’s test data as opener

Duration Inn Run average 100 50s highest score
2020-23 29 874 32.37 2 4 128

Case for KL Rahul

Rahul has batted from one to six in every situation, in which number five has been stopped. He is versatile with coming to Test cricket. But due to Rohit’s poor appearance in Australia, he returned to open. He scored two fifties there but gave Team India a good start. Even more importantly, his partnership with Jaiswal looked good.

A factor working in favor of Rahul is that he is at its peak. He now knows his role and game. Unlike previous tourism. He improves as a opener in England as a opener than his overall statistics. Rahul’s average increasesHowever, not much. But given how difficult it is to open away from home, it is a very good option.

KL Rahul’s test data as opener

Duration Inn Run average 100 50s highest score
overall 2015-25 83 2803 35.03 7 14 158
England 2018-21 18 597 37.31 2 1 149

Case for Sai

Unlike Rahul and Gill, reformson has not played Test cricket. He has got only 4 international matches under his belt. But he has done incredibly good under pressure in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been the most consistent batsman in the Sudhasan League since its debut for Titans of Gujarat in 2022. Only three times he has recorded a singles score in 36 matches.

Yes, IPL test cannot be a barometer for selection. But Sudhasran is exceptionally well while opening elsewhere. In the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, he scored 304 runs in 4 matches. He took an average of 76 and scored a dual century against Delhi. on top of this, He has also played for Surrey in the County Championship,

Sai Sudharsan’s first class data

Duration Inn Run average 100 50s highest score
overall 2022-25 49 1957 39.93 7 5 123
County cricket 2023-24 8 281 35.12 1 1 105

This makes his case strong. He has not found any worry in technologyLike Rahul. In addition, BCCI was already watching him as a backup opener for the India vs England Test series. He was part of India ‘A’ and scored hundred runs against Australia last year. He has been on radar for some time, and this may be the right time to throw him.

Yes, this will be a laftty-leafy opening partnership between reformson and Jaiswal, but no one can forget that Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden are probably the biggest early pair in Test cricket. If he is the right man for a job, it does not matter that Sudarshan is a southeast like Jaiswal.

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