 "What's next for Rohit, Kohli and Jadeja in ODIs? Maybe let the players be themselves and allow BCCI to take that call")
It’s one of those inescapable realities that the end of a major tournament is invariably accompanied by a slew of big-ticket retirements. It happens primarily, but not exclusively, at the end of an abortive campaign, but with India and the T20 World Cup last year, it can also be spawned by ultimate success.
Within hours of Rohit Sharma holding aloft the World Cup in Bridgetown, and within hours of each other, the captain, his predecessor Virat Kohli and senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja all announced their retirements from T20 Internationals . They will continue to play for their franchises, of course, but as far as country vs country 20-over contests were concerned, they were done. It was understandable; neither man was getting younger and there were few peaks to conquer on the world stage.
Rohit signed off with two World Cup titles (the first as a rookie in 2007), while Kohli and Jadeja finally had something to show for their excellence in what is largely considered a young man’s format.
One of the curious exercises we undertake in India is affixing a retirement time and date for the superstars. Conveniently forgetting that retirement is an extremely personal call and no one but the player concerned alone has the right to choose when to retire, a general consensus was sought to be built by certain sections of the media that the Champions Trophy would be the 50-over swansong of this same triumvirate.
BCCI selectors have no hurry to decide Ro-Ko’s future
No one is immune to the vicissitudes of form and can therefore come under the selectors’ scanner in the event of repeated non-performance or if the decision-makers feel it is time to move on, infuse younger blood and plan for the future. But retirement? That’s another matter altogether.
On the eve of the final, Shubman Gill, the vice-captain, was asked if Rohit had discussed retirement plans within the dressing-room. It was insensitive; the timing couldn’t have been worse and in any case, Gill can’t announce Rohit’s retirement, can he? So rampant had the rumour-mongering been that at the end of the post-tournament press conference, with the Champions Trophy sitting proudly by his side, Rohit said in his gentle, understated way , “One more thing. I’m not going to retire from this format, just to make sure that no rumours are spread moving forward.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA day later, Jadeja took to social media with an even briefer message, cryptic but clear that he wasn’t going anywhere immediately. Kohli has been steadfastly silent, unlike in Bridgetown when he announced his retirement to the host broadcaster immediately after receiving his Player of the Final medal. All in good time, perhaps?
To call India an ‘aged’ team might be a little presumptuous because it is this team, give or take one or two influential individuals, which has won 15 of its last 16 ODIs in global competitions. But it can’t be denied that this isn’t the youngest side, either. Rohit will turn 38 next month, and Kohli and Jadeja are both 36. The latter two are among the fittest in world cricket and Jadeja is, alongside the mercurial flying Kiwi Glenn Phillips, easily the best all-rounder fielder on the planet.
Rohit is supremely cricket fit, no matter what ill-advised politicians might believe , and he has still got it – case in point, his 76 of two parts in Sunday’s final against New Zealand, a knock that earned him the Player of the Final honours. On Wednesday, he moved up two places to No. 3 in the ICC rankings for ODI batters despite having sacrificed quantum for impact, chunky blocks for aggressive starts.
Those involved in making the big decisions outside of the playing group – chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his four mates, as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir – have the luxury of a few months before finalising the route forward. India’s next ODIs aren’t until August in Bangladesh. Before that, there is a five-Test series in England from June, which will be their immediate priority. Of course, it never is one or the other and therefore they will also plan for the 50-over future, but whatever those plans might be, they don’t need to be cemented and firmed up just as yet.
India are scheduled to play nine more ODIs this year – that number might change over time – including in Bangladesh and Australia, and at home against South Africa right at the end of the year. It is too early to talk in strident tones about the next 50-over World Cup, which is more than two and a half years away. That is a long period of build-up, its length perhaps its biggest drawback because two and a half years is too long to maintain form, consistency, fitness and drive and motivation.
Let Ro-Ko and Jaddu be themselves
Without losing sight of the long-term future, it might not be the worst idea to take these remaining 50-over contests this year for what they are – isolated, bilateral showdowns with not a lot riding on them. Perhaps next year, once the T20 World Cup is over (India and Sri Lanka are the joint hosts), the process of zeroing in on the larger pool that will be in contention for the longer World Cup in the Africas can begin in right earnest.
Rohit will be well past 40 by then, when South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia host the World Cup in October-November 2027, while Kohli will turn 39 during that tournament (Jadeja will reach that same number a month after the tournament ends). It is potentially unrealistic to guarantee that both of them will keep the fires burning until then because 31 months is a humongous amount of time in professional sport. To expect these two legends and Jadeja to commit to a future that far ahead at this time, not even a week after the Champions Trophy triumph, will be unfair and unnecessary.
At the end of the day, whenever Gambhir and Agarkar sit down among themselves and/or with these three giants, the discussions will revolve around what is best for Indian cricket, not just what is best for Rohit, Kohli and Jadeja. In an ideal world, both of those should synergise and come together beautifully, and given their long careers, it’s hard to see how this trio will put themselves ahead of the team.
But that is still some distance away. For now, maybe we should just allow them to be themselves, to express themselves for their franchises in Season 18 of the IPL, and to enjoy the entertainment when they turn out in the India Blue. Whether it is for the next few months or whether it extends till the 2027 World Cup. That’s the least this sterling triumvirate deserves.
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