With questions surrounding Virat Kohli’s ODI future multiplying, speculation regarding his possible successor at the critically important number 3 spot in India’s batting order is already on the rise. The former captain — considered by many as one of the greatest of all time in modern cricket — is going through a rough patch, and his consecutive ducks in the current series with Australia have led to a debate about the next lineup of India’s upper-order batsmen.
🇮🇳 Kohli’s Form Raises Retirement Buzz
Kohli, who has already lost a lot of weight in T20Is and Tests, is now under more pressure to justify his place in ODIs. The player who is already 36 has only been able to get a little above 300 runs in 2025 with an average of 33.3, which is way below his career norm. His last performance — getting out without scoring on the first ball at Adelaide Oval — has revived the topic of India’s transition plan to 50-over cricket.
🏏 The Contenders for India’s No. 3 Spot
Should Kohli opt for retirement from ODIs, Indian selectors will have a bunch of skilled players to choose from.
- KL Rahul
KL Rahul is an experienced player and can bat anywhere in the top order, he is a source of coolness and composure under pressure. Rahul has opened in the past and has even kept wickets, besides his adaptability and strong technique he is also the leading candidate for the No. 3 slot.
- Sai Sudharsan
The left-handed opening batsman from Tamil Nadu has rapidly turned into one of the most promising young players in India. Sai Sudharsan being a solid player in the domestic circuit has impressed in both IPL and he is known for solid temperament and ability to accelerate. His composure and consistency maybe mark him as a long-term choice for the one-down berth.
- Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar, who is currently in the form of his life with four centuries and three half-centuries is being considered as a future backbone of India’s middle order. The star of Royal Challengers Bengaluru combines assertiveness and serenity — these are the traits that were so typical of Kohli’s batting when he was at his prime.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad is a batsman full of nice strokes and at the same time here is a batsman who is hard to shift. He has done well in both domestic and international circuits. With an average of around 100 and a total of 4,300 runs, Gaikwad’s technical precision and smart shot selection suit him for the role of safe innings’ builder especially in foreign conditions.
🦘 Australia Seal Series as India Struggle
In the second ODI played at Adelaide, India was not up to the mark and Australia by winning the match secured the series 2-0. The runs contributed by Rohit Sharma (73) and Shreyas Iyer (61) were good but still India’s total of 264/9 was not enough. The Australians achieved their target thanks to batters Matthew Short (74) and Cooper Connolly (61), while Adam Zampa (4/60) and Xavier Bartlett brought about the fall of India’s top order — including the early getting out of Kohli.
🔮 What Lies Ahead for India
Kohli’s slip in form is still a cause for concern and the BCCI selection committee is now faced with a dilemma ahead of the next ICC cycle. Whether the iconic player makes a comeback or passes on the baton, the battle amongst Rahul, Sudharsan, Patidar, and Gaikwad indicates a vibrant — but challenging — future for Indian cricket.
