Picard’s too diplomatic to be Kirk. He became more of an action hero on the Ent-E during the movies. Whereas Kirk in the movies seemed to be the same Kirk on the tv show, always outsmarting the adversary at the time and getting into fisticuffs if necessary.
Sisko was a family man that was also recovering from a significant loss, neither of which Kirk experienced until the movies. While Kirk always tried to avoid a larger conflict, Kirk never had to deal with the Dominion and form a military alliance with two of the Federation’ s largest rivals to face them down. Plus, there’s the whole Emissary thing which is not the same thing as the throne Kirk sat on while on the bridge. Their similarities begin and end at being men of action.
Archer was monkish (barely hooked up with any women), got beat up more than he beat up others, and personality wise was a worse version of Bones at times due to how he treated the Vulcans.
Pike as Kirk’s contemporary is a good candidate. But Pike’s also more casual with his crew, while Kirk is more formal.
Riker is Kirk, but with a wife.
Harriman…lol. Maybe on Tuesdays.
Garrett. She at least died on the bridge and went down with the ship like many envisioned Kirk would do. Not much else is known about her though.
Freeman/Sulu/Saru/Georgiou/Lorca…nope.
Trip (“Twilight” timeline)…huge no. He too angry in that timeline. Its ironic he not though, since he was the most Kirk-like individual on the NX-01 prior to those events.
Burnham…maybe in spirit. There’s room for growth.
Janeway was dedicated to the mission, even at the expense to her personal life. And was very much a fly by their seat captain, while exploring the unknown. Which is a throwback to Kirk. She could hold her own when it came to fisticuffs too.
It has to be Janeway.
