5 possible replacements for Virat Kohli if he misses out on England T20I series 

Indian captain Virat Kohli has been diagnosed with a neck injury and will miss out on his county stint with Surrey. It has been reported that the 29-year-old might miss out on the T20 series against England (or parts of it) in July as well.

The skipper, who is not part of the one-off historic Test match against Afghanistan, will undergo a fitness test at the NCA in Bengaluru on June 15. Kohli had previously missed one of the ODI games against South Africa this year due to a neck strain.

In case he does have to miss the T20 series against England, here are 5 guys who can replace him.

---

#5 Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson was the second highest run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 11

Young Sanju Samson has been impressive in IPL this season, both with gloves behind the wicket and bat in hand. He does have a lot to work upon, but that will come only with international experience.

Though he did not keep wickets for most of the season, the Kerala batsman was Rajasthan Royals’ second highest scorer with 441 runs which was dotted with two half-centuries. He has played a solitary T20I for India, in which he scored 19 runs.

#4 Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu last played for India in 2016

With Kedar Jadhav missing out on IPL 11 due to injury, Ambati Rayudu had the opportunity to make the most of the former’s absence, and he made sure he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Rayudu, 32, who last played an ODI in June 2016, has been in sublime for this IPL, with 586 runs from 15 innings, at an average of 41.84 and a strike rate of 153.00.

This earned him an ODI recall for the tour of England. However, he wasn’t included in the T20 squad, but if Kohli’s injury concerns are not sorted before the England tour, we could see the batsman replacing the run-machine. Rayudu has played 6 T20Is in which he has only 42 runs.

#3 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer's brief international career has not been as smooth as he would have liked to

Captain of the wooden-spooners, Delhi Daredevils, Shreyas Iyer is one of the front-runners to replace Kohli, if there be a need. Tailor-made for the T20 format, Iyer’s flamboyant batting gives him an edge over his competitors.

This IPL season, he scored 411 runs from 14 innings, despite the pressure of captaining a team that was playing for nothing but self-esteem. Shreyas has played 5 T20s for India, in which he has 83 runs at a strike rate of 103.75.

For his state team, Mumbai, he has been one of the most prolific batsmen recently.

#2 KL Rahul

KL Rahul is already in the T20 squad for

England,

but might face competition from senior players

Although KL Rahul is already in the T20 squad for the series, he may be benched due to more experienced performers in the team. However, he has been in tremendous form this IPL season, with 659 runs from 14 innings at an average of 55 and strike rate of 158!

In that case, the management might not have to rope in any new member, and just play KL Rahul in place of the Indian skipper. The 26-year-old has played 15 T20Is for India, from which he has 500 runs.

#1 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant has been the best batsman of IPL 11

The young batsman fired on all cylinders this season of the Indian Premier League for his team Delhi Daredevils.

Although the team from the national capital is languishing on the bottom of the points table, IPL 11 has been personally satisfying for Pant, as he is currently the second highest run-scorer with 684 runs, only one run behind the highest run-getter, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Kane Williamson, who has 685 runs.

It is time the nationals selectors start keeping the batsman in their mind, because with the kind of form he is in, his international career demands a longer rope.