Finding a successor to Virat Kohli in Indian cricket will not be an easy task, particularly in the ODI format where the legendary batter has ruled for more than a decade. Kohli recently added another landmark to his extraordinary career against the West Indies, smashing his 55th ODI century and becoming the first Indian to cross the 15,000-run mark in the format. With the former captain now retired from Tests and T20Is and playing only ODIs, his eventual departure from 50-over cricket will leave a massive void. However, former India opener Wasim Jaffer already has someone in mind who could potentially fill the No. 3 spot.
Wasim Jaffer names ideal successor of Virat Kohli in ODI format
According to Jaffer, Tilak Varma possesses the qualities required to eventually take over Kohli’s position in India’s ODI batting order. The former opener believes India’s middle order could benefit significantly from having a left-handed batter occupying the crucial No. 3 position.
Jaffer was particularly impressed by Tilak’s ability to adapt to different batting positions. The youngster has previously demonstrated his ability to bat at No. 3, while also adjusting successfully to lower positions when the team required it.
“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 said on his YouTube channel.
The former India batter also pointed towards India’s future top order following the eventual retirements of Rohit Sharma and Kohli. While he expects Yashasvi Jaiswal to be an option to replace Rohit at the top, Jaffer sees Tilak as a potential left-handed successor to Kohli.
“It’s about time. 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 added.
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Young star’s promising career
Tilak’s case is strengthened by his performances across different levels of the game. Jaffer highlighted his impressive first-class record, with the youngster boasting an average of around 55, suggesting that his game is not limited to the shorter formats.
“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.
The 23-year-old has also continued to build his reputation in India’s white-ball setup. At the Asian Games 2026, Tilak played an important role in India’s successful campaign, including a stunning unbeaten 51 off just 22 balls against Pakistan in the gold-medal clash.
He also served as India’s vice-captain during the tournament and regularly provided stability as a finisher. His performances have further strengthened his credentials as one of the players India could build its future around. Tilak has already been entrusted with leadership responsibilities after being named India’s T20I vice-captain. His numbers in domestic cricket, the IPL with Mumbai Indians and T20Is have added to the growing belief that he could become a long-term asset for the national side.
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