BCCI to Review Clean Sweep Against New Zealand; Veteran Players May Be Dropped !!

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will evaluate the 0-3 whitewash in the three-match series against New Zealand and the career of some veteran players in this format may end after the team tours Australia. The BCCI is planning to phase out experienced players before the start of the next cycle of the WTC (World Test Championship).

There is a high possibility that the five-match Test series against Australia could be the last for at least two of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. All four players are in the last phase of their international careers.

When Rohit was asked about his views on India’s Test future, he said, “Look, I don’t think we can think so far ahead. It is important to focus on the next series, which is Australia.” He said, “I am not looking beyond the Australia series. The series against Australia is very, very important for us. We will try to focus on that instead of thinking about what will happen after that.”

There may be informal discussions between BCCI stalwarts and selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and captain Rohit about the team moving forward with the older players. A senior BCCI official said on the condition of anonymity, “It will be assessed and it can be informal as the team will leave for Australia on November 10. It is a big loss but the Australia series is near and the team has already been announced, so there will be no tinkering right now.”

He said, “If India does not qualify for the WTC final to be played in England, then there will be a high possibility that some of these four names will not be in the five-match series against England. These four have probably played their last Test match together on home ground.”

It is understood that the BCCI wants to avoid a repeat of the 2011 story when the team’s performance declined drastically. The board selectors, especially chairman Agarkar and head coach Gambhir, will need to talk to veteran cricketers about the plan. The Indian team is still in the race to qualify for the WTC final. If the team fails to do so, its campaign in the next WTC cycle will begin with a five-match Test series on the England tour. It will start from June 20.

The selection committee may be forced to consider long-term prospects by giving opportunities to players like Sai Sudarshan, and Devdutt Padikkal, who look ready for international cricket. With Washington Sundar emerging as a strong prospect for the next 10 years, Ashwin’s future in India may be discussed after the Australia series ends.

Jadeja, who has better fitness and bats well on foreign pitches, can be retained, although his strong alternative in Indian conditions is ready in the form of Axar Patel. In this case, Manav Suthar is also moving fast. Rohit has scored 1210 runs in 35 Test innings at an average of 37.18 since February 2021. In the last 10 innings, he has been able to score only two half-centuries and he has scored less than 10 runs in six innings.

Kohli’s performance has been more disappointing. He has scored 742 runs in the last 25 innings at an average of 30.91. While Rohit has scored four centuries during this period, Kohli has played only one century innings, and that too on the flat pitch of Ahmedabad. Jasprit Bumrah has been made the vice-captain of the team but considering his workload management, it cannot be stretched for too long. Either Shubman Gill or Rishabh Pant can be handed over the reins of the Test team.