Overview
- Wasim Jaffer publicly backed Tilak Varma on Monday, saying Varma’s versatility and about‑55 first‑class average make him a strong candidate to replace Virat Kohli at No.3.
- Tilak strengthened his white‑ball reputation by hitting an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls in India’s Asian Games 2026 final against Pakistan, a performance widely cited in Jaffer’s comments.
- Despite strong domestic numbers, Varma has no Test caps and has played only five ODIs for India, a gap that selectors will have to consider when naming a long‑term No.3.
- Varma is already an established white‑ball player with heavy T20 involvement, 65 T20I appearances, a role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad and vice‑captaincy at the Asian Games.
- Several other players—including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi—remain in contention and selectors must weigh format readiness, left‑right batting balance and long‑term fit before Kohli retires after the 2027 World Cup.