The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 could be the last series for India’s big four in Test cricket. After Ravichandran Ashwin, three more senior players could retire at the end of this series if things don’t go their way.
The three senior players are Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. All these players, alongside Ashwin, have served Indian cricket for more than a decade now. But recently, their form has been under the scanner.
While Jadeja played a vital knock with the bat in the last Test at Gabba, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been going through one of the worst phases of their career. Both of them have been troubled by Australian bowlers throughout the series so far.
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Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja to retire after BGT 2024-25?
According to Dainik Jagran, Rohit Sharma needs to bat exceptionally well in the remaining innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If he doesn’t score runs in the last two Tests, he is likely to hang up his boots.
Meanwhile, the report also claimed that the trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja will retire after the fifth Test of the series at Sydney if India doesn’t make it to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final next year.
Amid reports of Ashwin Retiring Midway because of Selection Dispute, Senior Journalist .@abhishereporter claims:
~ “If Rohit doesn’t play exceedingly well in upcoming 4 innings, He will RETIRE in SYDNEY. If India doesn’t qualify for WTC Final, Jadeja, Ro & Kohli are going.”🤯 pic.twitter.com/H8bPfs0edv
— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) December 19, 2024
Constant failures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma missed the first Test of the series due to the birth of his second child. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah led the team and took India to an emphatic win with an exceptional performance with the ball.
Rohit became available from the second Test but demoted himself to the No. 6 spot from his usual opening position. However, he still looked woefully out of form. In two Tests of the series so far, he has scored just 19 runs at an average of 6.33.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli too hasn’t been in great form with the bat. The 36-year-old has scored just 126 runs in three Tests so far at an average of 31.50. He scored a brilliant hundred in the second innings of the Perth Test but has otherwise looked all at sea to the ball at the fourth and fifth stump.
Pressure on Ravindra Jadeja after Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement
Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has played just one Test so far and is likely to keep his place for the Boxing Day Test as well. Jadeja scored 77 runs in the only innings he batted but was not penetrative enough with the ball returning figures of 0-95 in 23 overs.
With the retirement of his long-time spin bowling partner Ravichandran Ashwin, the pressure will be on Jadeja as well. Team India is going through a transition period and Washington Sundar is knocking on the door hard to become India’s first-choice spinner in Tests.