Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Shaik Rasheed Emerges as India’s Future No. 3 Hope
Shaik Rasheed is a 21-year-old cricketer who hopes to play Test cricket for India.
His coach believes he could eventually take a batting place after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Rasheed had an excellent Ranji Trophy season, scoring 627 runs in eight matches.
He also played for India A against Sri Lanka A. He knows those performances were only a start and that many players are competing for places.
One challenge he is learning to handle is the Kookaburra ball, which he found difficult in Sri Lanka.
He practices by imagining bowlers and the shots he will play.
Although he had limited opportunities in the IPL, he says Chennai Super Kings helped him learn how to build an innings and control a game.
Shaik Rasheed, 21, is among the top-order batsmen being prepared for India’s Test team after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The Andhra batsman scored 627 runs in eight Ranji Trophy matches last season at an average of 89.57.
Rasheed made 63, 20 and 45 for India A against Sri Lanka A but says he must make more of future opportunities.
He is working to improve against the Kookaburra ball and uses shadow practice and visualization before matches.
Despite playing only six IPL matches for Chennai Super Kings across three seasons, Rasheed says the experience taught him valuable batting lessons.
- Who
- Shaik Rasheed, a 21-year-old Andhra batsman, is the focus of the report.
- What
- Rasheed is developing as a potential future India Test top-order batsman, particularly at No. 3.
- When
- He is beginning the new season on Sunday in the Duleep Trophy semi-final; his breakthrough Ranji season was the previous season.
- Where
- The semi-final is being played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru; he previously toured Sri Lanka with India A.
- Why
- He is being monitored as part of the group of batsmen being prepared for India’s future Test team and wants to earn a Test cap.
- Age
- 21
- Ranji Trophy performance
- 627 runs in eight matches at an average of 89.57, including three centuries and two fifties
- India A results
- Scores of 63, 20 and 45 against Sri Lanka A
- Current selection picture
- Devdutt Padikkal has secured the No. 3 spot for now, while Rasheed remains among the batsmen being watched
- IPL experience
- Played six matches for Chennai Super Kings across three seasons
- Development focus
- Learning to read the shine and movement of the Kookaburra ball
- Immediate match
- South Zone versus North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final