Senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin will be phased out of India's T20 team over the next 24 months, according to BCCI sources on Thursday.
Next year will mark the beginning of the change, as many veteran players will opt out of the T20 format. Source
BCCI sources claimed Thursday that older players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin would be phased out of India's T20 team over the next 24 months.
The BCCI seems to have decided that Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik have played their last T20I games, but they will let Kohli and Rohit make the decision on whether or not they will continue to play in the shorter format.
Coach Rahul Dravid consoled a distraught Rohit after his team's humbling loss in the T20 World Cup quarterfinal.
Assuming the rumours from those in the know are true, a totally new squad will be assembled for the next T20 World Cup, which is still two years away. Hardik Pandya is expected to remain the team's captain for the foreseeable future.
"A member of the BCCI will never be asked to retire. A person must make up their own mind. Since there are so few Twenty20 Internationals slated for 2023, though, most of the veterans would focus on One-Day Internationals and Tests instead "an unnamed BCCI source shared with PTI.
"Your retirement announcement is optional. Most high school seniors will not be participating in T20 next season "says the corroborating source.
When PTI questioned Dravid about the future of veterans like Kohli and Rohit, he said it was too soon to speak about a transition.
"Talking about it right now, after a semi-final game, is premature. They've done an outstanding job for us. You're right, we do have some time to think about it "In the words of Dravid.
Dravid doesn't want people to prematurely write off the team just because some of the players are modern greats.
"Considering the calibre of the players there, this is most definitely not the moment to broach such topics.
"Ahead of the next World Cup, "we'll have enough games, enough encounters, and India will attempt to grow and prepare," the head coach stated.
It is generally accepted that India would prioritise the next 50-over World Cup by playing at least 25 ODIs over Twenty20 Internationals throughout the next calendar year.
It can be seen from India's FTP schedule that the squad will only play 12 T20Is in the shape of bilateral contests (home and away), with the first three games beginning next week in New Zealand.
The grammar of Powerplay batting might shift with the addition of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant (vice-captain for trip and also a passionate opener).
Prithvi Shaw, who is very gifted, has been overlooked on several occasions during Dravid's tenure as coach.
The BCCI is likely to defer to Rohit and Kohli, two major names, when it comes to deciding how to go with their careers.
As a 35-year-old, Rohit is no longer considered a viable candidate to captain a Twenty20 International squad in a worldwide competition.
When Karthik was given the job of finishing off innings, it was with an eye toward the Twenty20 World Cup in mind.
Ashwin believes that the opposing hitters never saw him as a legitimate danger during the competition. An economy rate of 8.15 was nothing to write home about, and three of his six wickets came in the game against Zimbabwe.
Washington Sundar, whose status had been certain until he had a series of ailments, will now have more time to prove himself.
The only questionable decision would concern KL Rahul, whose strike rate of 120.75 exemplified all that was wrong with the Indian squad.
He's the first opening batsman for a major team to have two maiden overs and score in the single digits against a top opposition (4 against Pakistan, 9 against South Africa, and 9 against England).
Since Rahul hasn't adjusted his game in response to criticism, he'll be a tough sell to the selectors when it comes time to choose a side for the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka.
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