T20 World Cup 2024
Five Indian Players who might retire after the 20-20 world cup in Australia
These five players have been the star performers for a long time.
The 20-20 World Cup 2022, which is set to take place in Australia, is just around the corner. The cricket fans are eagerly waiting to see their favourite stars compete with the world’s best players to have their hands on the most coveted trophy in T20Is. The world tournaments are a perfect platform for senior players of the team to bid adieu to the game. If the team manages to win the trophy they leave with euphoria but if the team fails and gets knocked out they leave with their head down. The Indian team will also have many senior players playing in the 20-20 world cup this year. On that note, let’s take a look at five players who might hang their boots after the end of the marquee event in Australia:
1) Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik (Source: Twitter)
Dinesh Karthik has been living a fairy-tale these of late. He played for India in their first ever T20I way back in 2006 and was awarded the ‘Player of the match’. Karthik kept moving in and out of the team but could never cement his place in the eleven. The wicketkeeper batter has once again stormed his way back into the Indian team after his stupendous performances in this year’s Indian T20 League and aims to play the role of a finisher for team India.
Karthik’s international career could not have a better ending than him retiring after the upcoming 20-20 world cup, for which he’s worked so hard. The flamboyant batter would love to add one more winners’ medal to his trophy cabinet and is willing to give his everything in its pursuit.
2) Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Source: Twitter)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his debut way back on 25th December 2012 against Pakistan in a T20I. The seamer straight away announced his arrival in style as he troubled the Pakistan batters with his impeccable swinging deliveries picking up 3/9 in his four overs. The bowler has since become the spearhead of the Indian attack in limited overs and has been in tremendous form lately.
With the next 20-20 world cup two years ahead and new talent emerging in the country every year, the 32-year-old might make up his mind to bid adieu to T20 internationals and elongate his career in franchise cricket. Kumar previously played two world cups once in 2014 and the other one last year. The in-form swing maestro will be eager to bowl his team to world cup glory this year.
3) Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin (Source: Twitter)
Ravichandran Ashwin burst onto the scene in the Indian T20 League 2010. The off-spinner had the remarkable ability to deceive the batters with his numerous variations. He played for India in four 20-20 world cups in the year starting from 2012. His inclusion in the team for the last year’s world cup surprised many people, as he hadn’t played a T20I for a long time. Ashwin has been once again given a run in the T20Is with the world cup approaching. The spinner will be seen playing in the mega event if he impresses the selectors in the upcoming Asia cup and the other two series.
The off-spinner performed exceptionally in the 2014 and 2016 editions of the tournament as he did full justice to his role of the ‘partnership breaker.’ Having missed out on the opportunity to hold the trophy in 2014, the 35-year-old will be desperate to win the trophy for his team this year and retire on a high.
4) Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)
Kohli didn’t impress in his first few outings in T20 internationals and as a result, missed out on a flight to the 20-20 world cup in 2010. However, the modern great answered his critics in style as he became the highest run scorer for India in the next three editions of the tournament. He even won the prestigious ‘Player of the tournament’ award for being the highest run-getter in the 2014 and 2016 editions. Despite giving his all on the field, Kohli hasn’t been able to grab hold of the 20-20 world cup.
The ‘King’ of the modern era will be once again going into the arena he’s previously ruled with his critics going after him due to his poor run of form. The 33-year-old marvel will be feeling restless to walk out and dominate the bowlers once again in his favourite tournament. Kohli has often mentioned giving up one format to elongate his career and this year’s world cup might finally see him taking that harsh decision.
5) Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma (Source: Twitter)
Rohit Sharma made his T20I debut in the inaugural 20-20 world cup in South Africa in 2007. The stylish young batter played two crucial knocks in that tournament, one against the hosts and one against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the finals. From there on, Rohit has emerged as one of the most prolific batters in the format as he sits on the second spot of the leading run scorers in T20 internationals. The ‘Hitman’ has also plundered a-world-record four centuries in the format out of which one was the joint-fastest ever in T20 internationals.
Despite having all these laurels next to his name, Sharma hasn’t quite got going at the world cup. He will be captaining the Indian team for the first time in a major tournament and will be looking to lead from the front by scoring heavily. The-35-year-old has won five trophies leading the Mumbai franchise in the Indian T20 league. The fans will be hoping for the man with the ‘Midas touch’ to work his magic on the Indian team and finally end the drought of trophy victories. Rohit might also hang up his boots at the end of the tournament.
