India emerged victorious in the 2024 T20 World Cup, ending their 13-year drought of ICC trophies. Virat Kohli was named Player of the Match in the summit clash for his valuable 76 runs and on this historic occasion, the legendary batter bid farewell to T20I cricket, stating, “It’s time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward.” However, he will continue to represent India in ODI and Test cricket.
The right-handed batter entered the T20I arena on June 12, 2010, and over his illustrious 14-year career in the shortest format, he has stockpiled 4,188 runs in 125 matches at an impressive average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. It is pertinent to mention that Kohli is the second-highest run-getter in T20 internationals, only behind Rohit Sharma (4,231 runs).
The Delhi-born player has produced numerous pivotal knocks for India and has left a void in Indian T20 cricket. In this piece, we shed light on five players who can replace Virat Kohli in T20Is. 
Sai Sudharsan
Hailing from Chennai, Sai Sudharsan is a budding prodigy in Indian cricket and has proved his mettle in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The left-hander amassed 527 runs in twelve innings in the 2024 IPL and was the leading run-scorer for Gujarat Titans. His ability to open the innings or bat in the middle order is something that the Indian selectors can capitalize on. Sudharsan’s ability to build long innings makes him a valuable asset. Additionally, he can aid the team with his part-time spin bowling.
The southpaw recently debuted for India in T20Is on July 7, 2024, against Zimbabwe but didn’t get the opportunity to bat. However, he has scored 127 runs in ODIs at a strike rate of 89.83. Considering his consistency with the bat, Sudharsan is a strong contender to replace Kohli.
Shubman Gill
The right-handed batter from Punjab is renowned for his classy strokeplay. The 24-year-old was dropped from the recently concluded T20 World Cup due to his poor form but has been named captain for the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe post-T20 World Cup. Gill has regained his rhythm in the T20Is against Zimbabwe, amassing 157 runs in four innings, including two half-centuries.
The elegant batter has 492 runs in 18 T20I matches at an impressive strike rate of 141.37, including a century and three half-centuries. He has also stockpiled over 3000 runs in the IPL and was the orange cap holder in the 2023 Indian Premier League, amassing 800 runs in 17 innings. He was touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket by cricket pundits: Just as Sachin Tendulkar succeeded Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli succeeded The Master Blaster, it won’t be surprising to see Gill fill the shoe of India’s No. 18.
Sanju Samson
The wicket-keeper batter from Trivandrum is a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League and has scored 4419 runs at a strike rate of 138.96 in 167 matches. He debuted in T20Is on July 19, 2015, but failed to cement his place in the international squad, scoring only 386 runs in 23 innings. Due to his stellar performance (531 runs in 15 innings) in the 2024 Indian Premier League, Samson earned his spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup but, unfortunately, didn’t get the opportunity to feature in the playing XI. The swashbuckler can tee off any bowler on his day but needs to show more consistency to strengthen his position as Virat Kohli’s successor.
Shreyas Iyer
The 2024 IPL-winning captain has represented India in all three formats. Iyer debuted in T20I cricket on November 1, 2017, against New Zealand but hasn’t played in T20 internationals since December 2023. The Mumbaiker has scored 1,104 runs in 47 T20I innings at a strike rate of 136.12, including eight half-centuries. The right-hander has amassed over 3,000 runs in the Indian Premier League and has helped the Kolkata-based franchise lift the silverware with his impressive captaincy. The stylish batter has blown hot and cold in recent times but can play long innings and fill the void left by Kohli.
Tilak Varma
Hailing from Hyderabad, Tilak Varma came into the limelight in the 2022 Indian Premier League. The southpaw made his T20I debut on August 03, 2023, against West Indies and has since scored 336 runs in 16 matches.
The left-hander was roped in by Mumbai Indians in the 2022 mega auction, and grabbing opportunities with both hands, Varma became a valuable asset for the Mumbai-based franchise. He scored 397 runs in 14 matches of his debut IPL season, stamping his authority in the cash-rich league. He has 1156 runs to his name in 38 IPL matches at an impressive strike rate of 146.33. With his consistent run-scoring and aggressive batting style, the left-hander can be a good option at number three for India in the shortest format.
