Kohli and Sharma’s Next Steps After T20 Retirement: Every major sporting event usually results in a wave of retirements due to the sour aftertaste of defeat. In the immediate aftermath of winning the ultimate prize in a certain format, three legendary figures have, maybe for the first time in history, declared their international retirement from that particular format.
Virat Kohli announced his plan to retire from Twenty20 Internationals shortly after India won the T20 World Cup in Bridgetown on Saturday afternoon. About an hour later, his captain Rohit Sharma did the same, nearly being compelled to show his hand in response to a particular question during the press conference after the game. After some time, Ravindra Jadeja became one of the two mainstays on the list of former T20 Internationals, and she announced the news on social media.
These retirements are all predictable. Jadeja is five and a half months away from becoming thirty-six, Rohit recently reached thirty-seven, and Kohli will age thirty-six in November. All of them have represented their country for at least fifteen years, and they are all locks in the other two international formats. With a World Cup winning medal dangling around their necks, they have accomplished everything there is to be accomplished for the nation in T20 cricket. Their calls were greatly influenced by that, as well as the fact that a younger group is poised to assume the reins.
What will happen to them next? From all appearances, T20 franchise cricket. Fans of the team still have a lot to look forward to in terms of the 20-over game because there is currently no indication that they are abandoning it entirely. However, considering their dominance in One-Day Internationals and Tests, they also have a lot to offer the national squad.
India’s next twelve and a bit months will be extremely busy, with two lengthy and demanding away Test series between them and the 50-over Champions Trophy, which is tentatively slated for February and March of 2025. India’s next Test match is against Bangladesh at home. After those two matches, they have three more against New Zealand before leaving for Australia for five Test matches in an attempt to clinch a hat-trick of series victories in Australia. India will play five Tests in England after reaching the World Test Championship final for the third time in a row. India hasn’t won a series there since 2007.
Thus, Rohit has a much to aim for in his roles as captain and the revitalised Test opener. While the massive disappointment of not making it to the final of the 50-over home World Cup last year has been somewhat alleviated by the T20 World Cup victory, the Champions Trophy and the possibility of winning a first-ever WTC championship remain enticing. His bat is blazing right now, and he’ll want to make the most of his remaining time on the international scene while simultaneously appreciating—like Kohli—that he can also give his young family more time and attention.
Thus, Rohit has a much to aim for in his roles as captain and the revitalised Test opener. While the massive disappointment of not making it to the final of the 50-over home World Cup last year has been somewhat alleviated by the T20 World Cup victory, the Champions Trophy and the possibility of winning a first-ever WTC championship remain enticing. His bat is blazing right now, and he’ll want to make the most of his remaining time on the international scene while simultaneously appreciating—like Kohli—that he can also give his young family more time and attention. Although he may have had enough of T20Is, Kohli is far from done with cricket. Neither is cricket with Kohli, whose impact on Indian cricket already surpasses the intimidating number of hundreds and runs.
Even while Rohit and Kohli have long since passed into the status of senior statesmen, they don’t want to sit back and enjoy their success. They have excellent company in that regard in Jadeja, the Rajput who bowls with cunning and cleverness, utilises his willow like a sword, and can outrun the wind. He is one of the fittest players; at the absolute least, he will run Kohli close. Although he is not as flashy as his two current, long-serving captains, he is just as important to India’s chances as the two right-handers.
India is lucky to have an abundance of proven performers at their disposal, but they have also been smart enough to have preparations in place for succession in case there is an unexpected void. In that succession process, Jadeja, Rohit, and Kohli all have significant roles to play.
