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Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has weighed in on who he believes should step into Virat Kohli’s shoes in the Indian cricket team. The contenders vying for this pivotal spot are Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Following Virat Kohli’s retirement from T20Is after India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, speculation has been rife regarding his replacement in the team’s lineup.
Both Gill and Gaikwad possess exceptional talent with the bat, making the decision of choosing between them a challenging one. Uthappa himself struggled with the decision, suggesting that perhaps both players could find a place together in India’s T20I playing XI.
Robin Uthappa identifies Virat Kohli’s ideal successor in T20Is.
During his discussion on Sony Sports Network, Uthappa delved into the strengths and weaknesses of both players. The former Indian cricketer noted that Gaikwad has displayed greater consistency, while acknowledging that Gill brings a versatile blend of finesse and power to the Indian team.
“Why can’t we have both of them because they’re just good players. Their numbers speak for itself, both have phenomenal numbers in T20 cricket. You can’t pick between the two.”
“If we look at consistency, you will see that Ruturaj (Gaikwad) is a little more consistent as far as numbers are concerned. But Shubman Gill gives you the versatility of having touch and power as well,” said Uthappa.
Uthappa put forward a compelling argument for why India could consider playing both players, highlighting their versatility and proficiency across all formats due to their abundant talent.
“It’s hard to pick between the two of them, ideally you would like to have both of them to play and why shouldn’t India have both of them play is what I’m asking because both of them are all format players,” the former India wicketkeeper added.
Russel Arnold prefers Shubman Gill over Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Russel Arnold, sharing his views from the same platform, favored Shubman Gill over Ruturaj Gaikwad. Arnold emphasized Gill’s unique ability to shift gears seamlessly during matches, pointing out that Gill’s distinct style could bring significant contributions to the Indian team compared to other players.
“I will go for Shubman Gill because I feel there’s lot of solidity about him. The players around him have flair and the he can change gears whenever he wishes. He’s a different type of player to the rest of the Indian players not power cricket but he will get it into different areas,” Arnold said.
Recently, both Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad featured prominently in India’s squad during their tour of Zimbabwe. Gill showcased his form by accumulating 170 runs across five matches, averaging 42.50 and finishing as the series’ top scorer. Meanwhile, Gaikwad also made a strong impression with 133 runs in four matches, averaging 66.50.
In the realm of T20Is, Gill has amassed 539 runs from 20 matches at an average of 29.94, complemented by a strike rate of 142.59. Notably, he was recently appointed as India’s vice-captain for both T20Is and ODIs. Gaikwad, on the other hand, has compiled 633 runs in 23 T20I matches, averaging 39.56 with a strike rate of 143.53.
