Team India’s Test future looks in doldrums for now, after a 0-3 defeat against New Zealand at home, where the batters were poor, to put it mildly. Virat Kohli struggled big time, and so did Rohit Sharma. Now, if a fresh report is to be believed, if India does not make it to WTC final, then the old batch of players are bound to be phased out of the team.
Bye, Bye Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli?
Right from Rohit, Virat, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja, it could be anyone, who could be permanently left behind from the Test team. It is likely, that for now, an informal discussion could take place between chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir, and skipper Rohit.
“Stocks will be taken certainly and it could be of informal nature since the team leaves for Australia on November 10. But this has been a huge debacle but, with Australia series round the corner and the squad already announced, there won’t be any tinkering,” a senior BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
“But if India doesn’t qualify for WTC final in England, one can be rest assured that all four super seniors won’t be on that flight to UK for the ensuing five-Test series. In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together,” the source added.
Right now, the qualification for WTC final looks grim, as India needs to win 4-0 Down Under. The doors will not be closed, but then they will have to depend on a lot of other results as well. In fact, rest assured, for the next WTC cycle, that starts with IND vs ENG away series in England next year, players like Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal will be looked at.
Also, the first one to face the axe could be Ashwin, given the fact Washington Sundar has proved his credentials. Jadeja might be able to just save his spot given his fitness. But truth be told, Rohit and Virat are certainly in danger.
“No doubt pitches in Australia will be far better for batting but erasing self doubts after this kind of humiliation will be a difficult ask,” a former selector said. Rohit might just be playing his last few Tests.
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