Indian Captain Rohit Sharma, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and excellent batter Virat Kohli, takes retirement from the T20 series, on 29th June 2024, after India become World Champions, by lifting the T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados. As the trio have left cricket in this particular series now it’s time for the younger generation to take over the lead and bring out new changes in Indian cricket. Since their retirement, everyone has an eye on what will be the future of these three players in the ODIs and Tests series.
VVS Laxman, the former Indian batter and current head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), has expressed his opinion on the future of these players in the other formats of cricket. All the players will be a part of the upcoming Tests and ODIs as BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that Rohit will lead the team India in the Champions Trophy next year. “While they have retired from this format, I am sure they will contribute to prepare the way they did so far in their career and continue to bring laurels to the country. Big congratulations for an excellent T20 career and I am sure they will continue to contribute in the longer version of the game and in the 50-over format,” he expressed in a video posted by BCCI.
Laxman, who had an excellent journey as an Indian cricket player, congratulated the team and their effort for bringing the trophy home and ending the 13 year long wait of the Indian cricket fans for a World Cup. “The kind of finish we had after we were under pressure with South Africa batters needing 30 runs from 30 balls. And from there to show character, resilience and self-being to pull off the match from the jaws of defeat, it shows the character of the entire team,” he said.
“The amount of hard work they put in, the celebrations (by the players and the support staff) told the bigger story behind this victory.” He quoted that the on- field celebration itself explained what was the meaning of the title and victory for all the team members. “Obviously, it is a special feeling winning the World Cup. When you are playing against the best and win the trophy, it means a lot to all the players participating in the tournament.” He said that each one of the squad was extremely emotional and happy at the same time, as we saw Hardik Pandya in tears while bowling the last ball of the last over, and we saw Captain Rohit Sharma emotions on the ground.
It was a big win overall as all the Indian cricket fans were waiting from 13 years for a trophy and since we lost the ODI World Cup last year, even after being so close to the 50-over World Cup, as we dominated the whole tournament but struggled in the finals to win the trophy. Laxman also mentioned the Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid and said, “I thought it was a great gesture by Rohit and Virat to hand over the trophy to him (Rahul) and the way he celebrated by lifting the trophy it showed how much it meant to each one of them.”
Laxman praised Rohit, Jadeja and Virat for their contribution in the T20 format and expressed that they will be playing for a longer time in the other formats of cricket for team India other than T20.