Yuvraj Singh explains why he sees Abhishek Sharma as Rohit Sharma's long-term replacement in India ODI team

Yuvraj Singh explains why he sees Abhishek Sharma as Rohit Sharma's long-term replacement in India ODI team originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Yuvraj Singh has urged India's selectors to make room for Abhishek Sharma in the ODI squad before the 2027 World Cup.Abhishek hit a century in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington, sharing a 133-run opening stand with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Yashasvi Jaiswal has two hundreds in six ODIs but was still India's third opening option for the West Indies series.Yuvraj Singh rallies for Abhishek Sharma's spot in India's ODI XIYuvraj Singh has urged India's selectors to find a place for Abhishek Sharma in the ODI squad before the 2027 World Cup. Speaking to Cricbuzz at a promotional event in Mumbai, he argued that Abhishek's long run of consistent white-ball form leaves little reason to keep him waiting.Yuvraj admitted the competition is fierce, with several big names occupying spots. But he also argued that if the youngster keeps performing, it would be hard to keep him out of selection."If you feel that Abhishek is performing brilliantly at the moment, then somewhere you have to make a place for him to play 50-over cricket until the World Cup," Yuvraj said.The comments land in an already crowded opening conversation. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are the first-choice pair, Jaiswal is still waiting for a run, and Abhishek's case now arrives on top of both. Here is what Yuvraj said, and why a call-up looks difficult.MORE: UAE thrash India and Pakistan to storm into Hong Kong Sixes Cup semi-finals: What next for IND, PAK?What Yuvraj Singh said about Abhishek Sharma's ODI caseYuvraj's case rested on consistency rather than any single score. He told Cricbuzz that the format of the runs matters less than the pattern behind them, and that Abhishek has been delivering for years."Whether he has scored 35, 100 or 31, 100, the point is that he has been performing consistently in white-ball cricket for a very long time. What more he needs to do to get into the ODI squad, I don't know."Maybe he needs to contribute more with his bowling and fielding. But that will only happen if he gets an opportunity to play." He then acknowledged how difficult the selection picture is, but acknowledged that unless he's given enough chances, he can't prove himself.Yuvraj made it clear that there's much to improve for the opener. He pointed to Sharma's fielding and batting as the areas where the youngster could improve. But once worked on, Yuvraj didn't have a doubt that he could become an ODI regular. But it might not be as easy as one might think.MORE: 'Not doing justice': Yuvraj wants Abhishek, Ishan and Vaibhav in India's ODI squadWhy Abhishek's ODI path looks harder than Yuvraj believes?Yuvraj did not name Rohit or Jaiswal in his comments, but the selection puzzle is hard to ignore. Rohit and Gill added 254 for the first wicket in Guwahati, and Rohit has hit form at the right time, which makes the top of the order look settled.Jaiswal shows how tight the queue is. The 24-year-old has two hundreds in six ODIs, yet he went into the West Indies series as the third opening option. In July, Yuvraj himself said he was more concerned about Jaiswal's lack of chances than about the senior pair.That makes Abhishek's route to the 2027 World Cup narrow. A place for him would mean displacing an established opener or rethinking the middle order, and neither looks likely with the tournament a year away. Yuvraj's push may matter more for what comes after the World Cup than for the squad that goes to South Africa.If the selectors are looking for a long-term successor to Rohit, the real contest is between Abhishek and Jaiswal. Whichever of them is handed a sustained run of ODIs first will have the stronger claim, and Yuvraj's call suggests that chance may not come for Jaiswal alone.For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.