3 players who could replace Rohit Sharma as opener if he retires after 3rd ENG vs IND ODI

Rohit Sharma has struggled to score runs in both matches of ENG vs IND ODI series.

Indian Cricket Team opener Rohit Sharma reportedly will be retiring from ODIs after the ENG vs IND series. As per a report by The Indian Express, the former Indian captain would play in the Indian jersey for one last time on July 19 at The Lord’s in the third ODI between India and England.

Although Rohit is willing to play for more time and has expressed his desire to represent the nation in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 next year, BCCI selectors have decided to move on with him in the 50-over format. The management wants to try and groom youngsters as openers to develop a strong top-order for the ODI World Cup.

For more than a decade, Rohit has been a consistent opener for India. It will be a challenging task for management to find his replacement in the ODI team. However, there are a few deserving candidates, on that note, we take a look at three of them.

3 players who could replace Rohit Sharma as opener in future

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad is one of the talented opening batters, who can take Rohit’s spot in the ODIs. The CSK captain has featured in just nine ODI games for India but has made a mark with his performances.

The right-handed batsman has scored 228 runs in 8 innings at an average of 28.50 and a strike rate of 89.76. He has also hammered a century and a half-century. Moreover, Gaikwad also has a stunning record in List A Cricket, scoring over 5000 runs in 100 games at an average of 58 with 21 tons and 20 fifties.

2. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has been an integral part of India in the T20I format for the last few years. Although the right-handed batsman has lost his spot in the playing XI due to inconsistent performances many times, he has made a regular comeback to justify and cement his spot.

Samson has played 16 ODIs over the years, scoring 510 runs in 14 innings at an average of 56.66 and a strike rate of 99.60. This also includes one century and three fifties. With his approach of taking his time at the start and gearing up as the match progresses, Samson would be a perfect opener for India in One-Day Internationals after Rohit Sharma’s ouster.

He has proved his efficiency as an opener in the shortest format in the past, with three centuries in his kitty and winning the Player of the Tournament award in the T20 World Cup 2026.

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashavi Jaiswal will be front-runner to take Rohit Sharma’s spot. The left-handed batter has featured in just six ODIs so far but has a brilliant record in them. At an average of 71.25, he has scored 285 runs at a strike rate of 97.60.

Out of these six games, he was unbeaten in two matches, and also has slammed two centuries. He was picked in the ODI series against Afghanistan last month, in which he slammed an unbeaten century in the third ODI in Chennai.

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