India could soon face one of its biggest batting questions in ODI cricket – who will take over Virat Kohli’s No. 3 position after the 2027 World Cup? Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes Tilak Varma could be one of the strongest options for the job.
Virat Kohli has already confirmed that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his last for India. His departure will leave a major gap at No. 3, a position he has dominated for around 15 years. Finding a reliable replacement will therefore be a major challenge for the Indian team.
Wasim Jaffer feels Tilak Varma has several qualities that make him a suitable candidate. The young left-hander has shown that he can bat in different positions, while his performances in first-class cricket have also strengthened his case.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Wasim Jaffer praised Tilak Varma’s versatility. He pointed out that the batter has already shown he can score runs at No. 3 and has also adjusted well to lower positions such as No. 5 and No. 6. According to Jaffer, the ability to adapt to different roles is an important quality for an international batter.
Wasim Jaffer also believes India could benefit from having a left-handed batter in Virat Kohli’s place once the senior stars move on. He suggested that Tilak Varma has the kind of batting ability required to play across all three formats and highlighted his impressive performances in the Duleep Trophy. Tilak’s first-class average is around 55, which further adds to his credentials.
However, Tilak Varma does not yet have an extensive ODI record. He has played only four ODIs for India, batting twice at No. 3 and once each at No. 4 and No. 5. He has scored 68 runs at an average of 22.67 in those matches. His most recent ODI appearance came in December 2025 against South Africa. That was also the series in which Ruturaj Gaikwad batted at No. 4 and scored a century.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is another possible option for India, while the team could also consider moving Shubman Gill to No. 3. Shubman Gill was originally an opener in Test cricket but later moved into Virat Kohli’s No. 4 position and performed extremely well there.
Replacing Kohli, however, will be a massive challenge. The player who eventually takes his No. 3 spot will not only be compared with one of India’s greatest batters but will also face comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar, who held a legendary place in Indian cricket.
The pressure and expectations will be enormous. For now, Tilak Varma is one of the names being discussed, and his versatility, left-handed batting and strong first-class record could make him an interesting option for India’s post-Virat Kohli ODI era.
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