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Veteran Indian leg-spinner, Piyush Chawla during his recent interaction with Shubhanker Mishra, picked two names who could fill in the void of star opening batter and Team India captain, Rohit Sharma and batting stalwart Virat Kohli . Speaking in a podcast, while recalling various different incidents during his playing career was also asked to pick Rohit and Virat’s successors.
Although, the veteran cricketer did not give a second thought while picking up the first name in Shubman Gill, who is a young Indian opener, featuring in all formats of the game. Although he did name both these upcoming sensations as “special players” in Indian cricketer, he hailed Gill’s technique and named Ruturaj Gaikwad as the other player.
Piyush Chawla picks Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad as Rohit & Kohli’s successors
It is to be noted that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced retirement from the shortest format of the game after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in West Indies in June. However, they continue to be available to play in the 50 over format and the longest format of the game. Speaking in the podcast with Shubhanker Mishra, Chawla also highlighted that the two stalwarts are nearing the end of their career while picking up the two names who could succeed them in Indian colours.
“Shubman Gill. Because of the technique he possesses,” Chawla said bluntly without a second though. “You see, if a batter goes through a rough patch of form, it is usually his technique that comes into play and helps them get out of the rut. If you notice, any batter who had great technique will never undergo a bad run of form for too long,” he said.
But the veteran cricketer did not stop by naming Gill as he also picked Ruturaj Gaikwad as the second one. “So, for me, Shubman Gill is up there for sure, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad,” he stated. Talking of Gaikwad, the 35-year-old said, “It (getting dropped or injured) is part and parcel of the game. It will keep happening. But, whenever he has got the opportunity, he has looked different. For me, these two players (Gill and Gaikwad) are special.”
Watch Piyush Chawla pick Gill & Gaikwad as Rohit & Kohli’s replacement:
Speaking of Gill and Gaikwad, both have been key players for the side. Gill, 25, had played 25 tests, 47 ODIs and 21 T20Is for the Men in Blue, amassing 1492 runs, 2338 runs and 578 in T20Is respectively. Gaikwad has played six ODIs and 23 T20Is scoring 115 and 633 runs respectively.
