Though no formal announcement has been made, retirement rumours about Rohit Sharma, one of India’s most successful ODI players, are still gaining traction. Nevertheless, the focus of the conversation has already switched to finding possible replacements at the top of the batting order.
Although it’s never easy to replace an experienced opener and captain, India has a number of gifted batsmen who can succeed in the 50-over format and assume more responsibility.
Here are the 5 players who can replace Rohit Sharma in ODIs:
5. Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal has played 2 Tests and 3 T20Is for India but is yet to play ODI cricket. He has made 90 Test runs and 38 T20I runs. However, the Karnataka batter has a splendid List-A record with 2,796 runs in 42 matches with 13 centuries and 14 fifties at an average of 82.23 and a best score of 152.
Padikkal fulfils most of the criteria when it comes to ODI batting; he has the technique, temperament and aggression to take on the bowlers in both powerplay overs and after that. Being a left-hander, he would also complement Shubman Gill at the top. Padikkal will be a good addition to the Indian squad.
4. Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad has played 9 ODIs and 23 T20Is for India. He has scored 228 runs in ODIs with one century and one fifty. However, most of his innings in T20Is have come in the top four. He has opened in ODIs four times, scoring 88 runs with a best score of 71. Gaikwad brings in much-needed calm at the top and has shown aggressiveness as well. Gaikwad as an opener is a very good opener for India, as he has the ability to bat throughout the innings, pacing it nicely.
3. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan might be a left-field choice as an opener, but he has done the job for India previously. He famously made 210 against Bangladesh as the opener and has 495 runs in 9 games as an opener with one century and three fifties. Kishan provides the ultra-aggressive option at the top for India.
He loves playing over the top in powerplay overs and is well suited to handle extreme pace and good spinners. He can take the game away from the opposition right at the start with the bat, and given that he is a wicketkeeper, India can play an extra batter or bowler as well.
2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
A proper out-of-the-box option for India would be 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Sooryavanshi didn’t have a very good start to his India career, scoring 30-odd runs in the first three T20Is he played. Sooryavanshi has made 564 runs in 13 ODIs, with one century and 2 fifties, including the highest score of 190 for Bihar. He also made 175 for India U19 against England in the final of the U19 World Cup 2025.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
India’s permanent Test opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has also played 6 ODIs and 23 T20Is for India. In ODIs, he has been waiting for his turn since his debut in 2025. He has 285 runs with two centuries at a strike rate of 97.60. Jaiswal is the prime contender to replace Rohit Sharma at the top and should be given a long run to establish himself. He needs to be included in the India playing XI now if they want him to play in the 2027 ICC World Cup.
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