The recent 2-2 draw between India and England in the hard-fought Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy wasn’t just a series result; it was a display of the rising generation of Indian cricketers. They showed a strong belief in themselves and a willingness to push their limits for their team and country.
We saw Mohammed Siraj bowling nearly 200 overs, pushing through fatigue over five Tests. Washington Sundar consistently stood his ground, while Yashasvi Jaiswal made key contributions when they mattered most. Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna bowled with a lot of heart, and Sai Sudharsan offered glimpses of his potential value in the long term.
However, this emergence of new talent raises a question: What does this mean for the established senior players? Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have stepped back from T20Is and ODIs, while Jasprit Bumrah’s proneness to injury requires careful management. With Kohli at 36 and Rohit at 38, their next likely appearances might be in the three-match ODI series against Australia, followed by another three against South Africa at home. Following that, there’s an opening for them in six ODIs against New Zealand (at home) and England (away) between January and July 2026.
But is this sufficient preparation to keep them competitive for the 50-over World Cup in South Africa come 2027? Will Kohli and Rohit want to continue playing based on just one format of the game, along with the IPL?
Yes, this will be discussed soon. We still have more than two years before the next World Cup in November 2027. Kohli and Rohit will almost be 40 by then, so a clear plan is needed for the big event since our last win was in 2011. We need to test some younger players in time,” a source told PTI.
So, will these former captains get to decide when and how they leave, or will they be gradually replaced with the future in mind? Both Kohli and Rohit have contributed a lot to the team and to white-ball cricket. They have accomplished a great deal.
So, I don’t think anyone will force them out, but there will be some honest talks before the next ODI cycle. These conversations will be about where they stand mentally and physically. The decision will depend on that, he said.
Another issue is the limited playing time for Kohli and Rohit. They haven’t played any matches since the Champions Trophy in March of this year. Also, there are no domestic white-ball competitions before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20s in November, followed by the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December.
The BCCI rules say that a fit player cannot skip domestic matches. If they do, they risk being left out of national squads. Kohli and Rohit’s status might give them an exemption if needed.
Bumrah presents a different challenge, and the team’s medical staff has planned out his international schedule. This plan led to him playing in only three Tests in England. Many believe that it’s time to create a clear strategy for using this key bowler.
There is no doubt about what he brings to the team. But the management and the board need to discuss how to use him. Should he play in all formats, or should he focus on just one or two? a former player who knows Bumrah well told PTI.
“Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh have shown that they can win Tests for India. We should fully support them. We have two big tournaments coming up which are the T20 and ODI World Cups, and we need Bumrah ready for those. For home matches against West Indies and South Africa, we have Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, along with Jadeja. Bumrah’s role won’t be as important in these matches.
“If you ask me, he should focus more on white-ball formats. There are many T20s and ODIs for him to play in the next two years. Of course, there’s the IPL too. It’s better for him to play all matches in one format than a few in all formats. This adds more value to the team, he noted.
