The retirement of Shikhar Dhawan marked the end of an era for Indian cricket fans. Dhawan’s retirement had been anticipated. At 38, he had not played for India since December 2022. The early morning announcement evoked memories of his debut in Mohali, the 2013 Champions Trophy, the thigh-slap celebration that earned him the nickname 'Gabbar', and the twirl of his moustache as the nation wished him well for his illustrious career.
Simultaneously, Shikhar Dhawan's retirement served as a stark reminder that the other two members of the revered Indian cricket trio – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – might also be approaching the end of their careers. At 35 and 37 respectively, Kohli and Rohit have recently announced their retirements from T20 internationals following India’s World Cup win in the West Indies. There is speculation that the upcoming Champions Trophy or the World Test Championship could potentially be their final ICC appearances together.
As Kohli and Rohit prepare for a demanding Test season, with more matches behind them than ahead, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes they might extend their careers beyond what is typical for former Indian cricketers. With workload management being prioritised in Indian cricket and Rohit and Kohli at a stage where they can select their series, Bangar suggests that they could play longer than Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid did.
"I think Rohit will continue to play as long as his body and fitness allow him to. A player of that calibre – Sachin played till 40, even Rahul played till 40 – with better fitness standards and more professionals looking after players, including nutritionists, is advantageous," Bangar said on The Rao Podcast. "Players' careers are likely to be longer, and if that benefits the Indian team, all the better. With Virat, it will depend on his body. The last format he would give up will be Test cricket. So, I am confident that you will see Virat playing Test cricket for another five years."
Bangar was also sceptical about the notion that Rohit Sharma would have retired from ODI cricket even if India had won the World Cup at home last year. India had an exceptional, if not nearly perfect, World Cup campaign, winning 10 matches in a row before losing the crucial final to Australia on 19 November. Had the outcome been different, the sight of Kohli and Rohit celebrating consecutive World Cup victories would have been remarkable. Nevertheless, there is a belief among some that Rohit might have retired from ODI cricket had India won. But would he have?
"Hard to say, but I think, just like in 2015, 2019, and 2023, all three World Cups featured dream campaigns, though we were ultimately outplayed by Australia in the final. They played extraordinarily well to chase down that target. I still believe that because he is leading the team and has tasted success, with India aiming for the World Test Championship, there is much to look forward to. In today's cricketing landscape, with World Cups happening every two years or even annually with ICC tournaments, I don’t think winning the World Cup would have been a deciding factor. Rohit’s retirement wasn’t a given just because India won the World Cup," Bangar observed.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
