Indian Cricket: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are the pillars of Indian Cricket and that too in all three forms of the game. However, these two legends of Indian Cricket will not feature in the shorter version of the game. The King and HITMAN have retired from the T20 International format after India won their second title on 29th June 2024.
Virat and Rohit have left a huge legacy behind in the shortest format and it would be impossible to fill in their big shoes. Rohit had won the T20I title as a player in 2007 and ended his career in the shortest format as a World Champion after he won the second title as a skipper of the Indian Cricket Team.
While the King, Virat Kohli had never won the T20 World Cup before the 2024 event of the shortest format now he also ends his career as a World Champion of the T20 International format. HITMAN and King Kohli will play the other two forms of this gentlemen’s game and they are in the ODI series squad versus Sri Lanka, that three-match series will start today in Colombo.
India’s preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 will start from this series of the One Day International format against the Lankans. In that ICC event of the fifty overs format, both Virat and Rohit will be very vital for India. But what will be the benefits and drawbacks once these two legendary players of Indian Cricket decide to hang up their boots from the International Cricket Arena?
Drawbacks –
- Age – Virat and Rohit are already above 30s. Even though age is just a number for these two worldwide icons, the body takes a full toll because they have played so much cricket already. Virat and Rohit’s game might be hampered by body fatigue, physical prowess and reflexes in a fast-paced format like the one-day international form of the game.
- Time – Time is another drawback in this case because to build a core team for the next ODI World Cup which will be played in 2027, the Indian Cricket Team needs to see and give ample opportunities to the younger talents and that would be possible only if Virat and Rohit or any one of them decide to quit the ODI format as well like they have done it in the T20Is.
- Fitness – Mental and physical fitness has always been important in cricket and other sports. Virat Kohli is an icon of maintaining great fitness. He has been uploading many things on social media related to his fitness. But because of age that glow of Virat and Rohit might disappear because of the hectic schedule of the Indian players even when Kohli and Rohit have decided to play just two forms of the game. However, they will feature in the IPL, which is a two-month-long event that will also test their mental and physical fitness.
 Benefits –
As said earlier, it would be impossible to find replacements for Virat and Rohit once they decide to hang up their boots.
- Chances For The Young Guns Of India To Shine – India has got talent to carry forward the work that Virat and Rohit have done in Indian Cricket. We have seen many talented batters who are in decent shape and they will get better with game time and maturity. After Virat and Rohit decide to retire, one good thing that will happen is that the younger generations of Indian Cricket will take centre stage.
- Timely Retirement – As Kohli and Sharma did in the T20I format, their retirement decision was spot on because the next T20 World Cup is in 2026 and India has two years to make a core team for that ICC event of the shortest format. If Virat and Rohit also do a similar thing in ODIs and Tests, then that will benefit the Indian Cricket massively.
- Experiments – Once Virat and Rohit have retired from the T20Is, India has a chance to experiment with their lineups in the upcoming series. They can also try newer players and give them specific roles. After The King and HITMAN decide to quit the International cricket arena, India can even experiment in the other two forms of this gentlemen’s game.                                                            Also Read – Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharm: Should They Continue To Play Even After Gautam Gambhir Is The Coach Of India?
