- Team India’s spectacular triumph in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 50-over contest must have warmed the cockles of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) mandarins as well as connoisseurs, experts, and crazy fans, alike. People closely following the fortunes of Team India would have been concerned about their recent exploits in Tests going awry despite possessing such gifted, talented, worthy and proven performers. The defeats against New Zealand at home and Australia Down Under were a worrying aspect that needed to be addressed by the stakeholders. In between, the 50-over World Cup and the Australia series, Team India thankfully won the ICC T20 World Cup played in the West Indies and the USA.
PC: Hindustan Times
- In the Tests, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were in focus but both the key players failed to deliver the goods when it mattered most. The pressure was on these two marquee players to deliver when everyone around them started making noises about their continuity in the team. Make no mistake, both Rohit and Virat are world-class performers having showcased their unquestionable talent for such a long time. However, when their bats failed to deliver consistent performance for the betterment of the team’s cause, naysayers were out in the open raising pertinent questions about their possible succession plans. Yes, Team India is staring at a transition period, and these two players are in the twilight of their glorious careers. No denying this fact.
PC: Olympics.com
- The moot point to ponder over here is where Rohit and Virat will continue from here on vis-à-vis continuation in the 50-over white-ball format. Note that both have retired from the T20Is soon after winning the T20 World Cup last year. Even Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from the shortest format. The next 50-over World Cup will be held in 2027, two years from now. There are no signs of the superstars making any announcement about their retirement from the 50-over format yet. The BCCI and the selectors will have to prepare a clear-cut roadmap for the 2027 World Cup identifying the right players to represent. The buildup process must start from here on. The Head Coach Gautam Gambhir must be planning the next moves vis-à-vis team composition.
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PC: Firstpost
Will the two ageing superstars figure in Gambhir’s future scheme of things at all? It’s not a wild guess to mention the selectors would have spoken to these players about their future. We know how nudging an established Indian cricket superstar usually pans out. But the selectors must sit across and explain the need and necessity to move ahead. The reconfiguration of the team for the World Cup must begin in earnest now, offering enough opportunities for the new players to get the hang of the top-notch international cricket well before. Conversely speaking, will Rohit and Kohli decide to move on by announcing their retirement from the 50-over contest to solely concentrate on Tests and the lucrative IPL career? Possible. The time alone will reveal though.
