The ninth edition of the recently concluded mega-event tournament was co-hosted by the USA and West Indies
01 July, 2024
PHOTO: AFP
The Indian opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired from T20I cricket following their team's victory against South Africa, which secured their second T20 World Cup title after 17 years.
The ninth edition of the recently concluded mega-event tournament was co-hosted by the USA and West Indies.
Rohit remains the sole member of the Indian cricket team to have lifted the trophy in both their first triumph in 2007 and their recent win in 2024.
As the search begins for their successors, several promising players are in contention to fill the void left by these cricketing giants. Here are some key contenders:
Yashasvi Jaiswal:
Yashasvi Jaiswal has emerged as a strong candidate since the T20 World Cup 2022, opening for India 16 times over the past two years. Selected for the 2024 squad as a backup opener, Jaiswal boasts a T20I average of 33 and a strike rate of 161. He also opens for India in Test cricket, highlighting his versatility.
Shubman Gill:
Shubman Gill is seen by fans and experts as a potential opener and future captain for India in the shorter format. Despite a challenging stint as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, his role as India's ODI opener adds to his credentials. Gill's leadership skills were further acknowledged when he was named captain for the Zimbabwe tour.
Abhishek Sharma:
Though yet to make his international debut, Abhishek Sharma has impressed in the IPL, scoring 710 runs at a strike rate of 180. As a left-arm spinning all-rounder for the U19 side, Sharma's adaptability and recent form as an opener make him a strong contender. He has been called up for the senior team's Zimbabwe tour.
Sanju Samson:
Sanju Samson, with his experience and versatility, has opened the innings 44 times in his career, including once for India in a warm-up game against Bangladesh before the T20 World Cup 2024. Though he hasn't secured a spot in the middle order, Samson's experience could be valuable in the opening slot.
KL Rahul:
KL Rahul is perhaps the most experienced candidate to replace Rohit and Kohli. With 72 matches and 2,265 runs at an average of 37.75 and a strike rate of 139.12, Rahul has a proven track record. Despite being off the radar since the T20 World Cup 2022, his performance in the Cricket World Cup, where he scored 452 runs at an average of 75.33, underscores his capability to deliver in crucial moments.
It is worth noting tthe Men in Blue clinched the title by defeating South Africa by 7 runs in the mega-event final on Saturday in Barbados. India has now joined England and the West Indies as the third team to win the T20 World Cup twice.
