India's ODI batting lineup is set to face a massive transition following the 2027 ODUI World Cup, with Virat Kohli expected to leave the crucial No. 3 position. Kohli has been batting at No. 3 position for so long in his ODI career, making it one of the most important spots in India's batting order. And it will be a challenge for the management to find a suitable candidate for the position.
Meanwhile, former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes young batter Tilak Varma could be one of the strongest candidates to take that spot. Jaffer is of the view that Tilak possesses the qualities that make him a valuable batter at that position. Notably, Virat Kohli has made it clear that the upcoming World Cup will be his last for India.
"It feels great to see his versatility. He previously scored a century at No. 3, and now he has adapted to the No. 5 and No. 6 positions so beautifully. This is an amazing quality. Jaffer also highlighted Tilak's first-class record and his recent performances in the Duleep Trophy as evidence of his ability to handle the demands of different formats,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
"When Virat and Rohit leave, Rohit, obviously, is a top-order batter, and Yashasvi Jaiswal is there to replace him, but I feel there will be a left-handed batter in Virat's place. He has that game; we saw the way he scored runs in the Duleep Trophy. His first-class average is around 55. So, he can fit into all three formats pretty easily," Jaffer said.
Having played for ODIs In his career so far, Tilak has been used at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 positions, scoring 68 runs. He has batted twice at No.3 positions. Amid this Jaffer also lauded the evolution of Abhishek Sharma.
“It seems that Abhishek has matured a bit. He takes a little time, and the assurance is visible now, although this format doesn’t give you a lot of time. His earlier approach was to try to hit a six on the first ball. Now, he has understood that it was the wrong approach,” Jaffer said.