Former England captain Michael Vaughan has lauded India’s emerging cricket stars – Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal – stating that the trio is capable of carrying the team forward with the same dominance Virat Kohli displayed alone during his peak years.
Speaking on a cricket podcast after India’s emphatic win against England in Edgbaston, Vaughan said:
“For almost a decade, it was Virat Kohli single-handedly carrying India’s batting hopes across formats. But now, they have Gill, Pant, and Jaiswal – three young match-winners who can shape Indian cricket’s next decade together.”
The Kohli Era: A Benchmark For Indian Cricket
From 2012 to 2020, Virat Kohli’s prolific run-scoring and aggression defined India’s dominance. He amassed 7,240 Test runs at an average of 53.6, including 27 centuries, and over 12,000 ODI runs with 43 hundreds. Vaughan believes replicating this consistency is difficult for any single batter but possible collectively through a strong core.
| Player | Format | Runs (till July 2025) | Average | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Tests | 8,220 | 50.12 | 29 |
| Shubman Gill | Tests | 2,310 | 42.77 | 6 |
| Rishabh Pant | Tests | 2,410 | 45.12 | 5 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Tests | 1,790 | 49.72 | 4 |
Why Vaughan Rates The Trio Highly
- Shubman Gill:
The technically elegant opener has been consistent in subcontinent and overseas conditions. Vaughan said: “Gill reminds me of a young Dravid with Kohli’s aggression. He can play the moving ball in England, bounce in Australia, and spin in India with equal ease.” - Rishabh Pant:
Returning from his car accident, Pant scored a counter-attacking 97 at Edgbaston, reminding fans of his match-winning 89* in Gabba 2021. Vaughan commented: “Pant is India’s X-factor. He can change a game in an hour. He plays like Adam Gilchrist but with Indian flair.” - Yashasvi Jaiswal:
The 23-year-old left-hander impressed Vaughan with his fearless approach. “He’s young but bats like he owns the place. You need that confidence to dominate world attacks.”
Michael Vaughan’s Analysis On Indian Batting Transition
| Key Attribute | Virat Kohli (Peak) | Gill | Pant | Jaiswal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperament | Supreme under pressure | Solid | Fearless | Confident |
| Technique | Compact and classical | Elegant | Unorthodox | Aggressive |
| Fitness | Elite | Excellent | Improving | Excellent |
| Leadership Potential | Proven | Emerging | Future | Future |
Vaughan believes that with Rohit Sharma nearing retirement and Virat Kohli playing selective formats, India needs multiple batters stepping up consistently.
“The fear for any team is over-reliance on one player. With Gill, Pant, and Jaiswal firing together, India can dominate like Australia did under Ponting.”
Recent Performances That Impressed Vaughan
- Gill: Scored a fluent 117 in the first innings at Edgbaston.
- Pant: Hit a quickfire 97 that swung the match’s momentum.
- Jaiswal: Made 72 in the second innings with aggressive strokeplay.
Vaughan said:
“The best part is they complement each other. Gill builds, Jaiswal attacks, Pant destroys.”
The Kohli Comparison
During his career peak, Virat Kohli often carried India’s batting line-up alone in tough conditions, particularly overseas. Vaughan’s statement that “Virat did it alone” reflects Kohli’s match-saving and match-winning knocks during lean team phases.
However, Vaughan adds:
“Cricket is a team sport. This new Indian team doesn’t need to depend on one superstar. They have three who can be superstars together.”
Indian Fans React
Indian cricket fans welcomed Vaughan’s comments as an acknowledgment of the team’s strong bench strength.
- @cricketmania: “Kohli is irreplaceable, but having three batters who can carry the team is even better.”
- @bleedbluealways: “Vaughan is right. Gill, Pant, Jaiswal – this trio will dominate world cricket for the next 10 years.”
- @gillfanclub: “Shubman Gill is the next Indian captain. Time to build a team around him.”
Challenges Ahead For The Trio
- Consistency:
Kohli’s greatness was built on a decade of consistency. The young batters need to sustain performances across formats and conditions. - Injury Management:
Pant’s comeback from injury highlights fitness as a key factor. Workload management will be crucial, especially with tight ICC and IPL calendars. - Handling Pressure:
Playing for India comes with immense expectations. Vaughan advised: “Fans should give them time to grow. Don’t expect them to replace Kohli overnight. Greatness takes years.”
What’s Next For India?
With the upcoming Test series against Australia and the T20 World Cup next year, India will look to strengthen its core batting line-up.
| Upcoming Series | Format | Key Players to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| India vs Australia | Tests | Gill, Jaiswal, Pant |
| Asia Cup | ODIs | Gill, Pant |
| IPL 2026 | T20 | Jaiswal, Pant |
| T20 World Cup 2026 | T20 | Gill, Pant, Jaiswal |
Conclusion
Michael Vaughan’s endorsement of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal as India’s future batting pillars underscores the country’s robust talent pipeline. While Virat Kohli’s era remains unparalleled for its sheer dominance and intensity, this trio has the potential to define Indian cricket’s new chapter collectively – an era where the burden does not fall on a single hero, but is shared by fearless young champions ready to take on the world together.
