The Rohit Sharma-led Team India registered their first-ever Test series whitewash at home after going down against New Zealand. However, they lost the series after second straight defeat against New Zealand in Pune, registering their maiden Test defeat in 12 years, on Sunday, November 3, India were bundled out at the score of 121 with the visitors winning the third and final Test by 25 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Seeing this massive defeat which will go down in the history of Indian cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) intends to decide on the future of several senior cricketers, including the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The Indian cricket board aims to structure a phase out policy before the start of the next World Test Championship cycle, which will start from June 2025.
BCCI to decide on Rohit, Virat, Ashwin and Jadeja’s future in Test cricket
After the 0-3 drubbing against New Zealand, the BCCI has made its intentions clear of phasing out a process, especially of the senior players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and the spinning all-rounder duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. “Stocks will be taken certainly, and it could be of informal nature since the team leaves for Australia on November 10. But this has been a huge debacle but, with Australia series round the corner and the squad already announced, there won’t be any tinkering,” a senior BCCI source told PTI, as quoted by OneCricket.
“But is India doesn’t qualify for WTC Final in England, one can be rest assured that all four super seniors won’t be on that flight to UK for the ensuing five-Test series. In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together,” the source further added.
Moreover, to pave the way out, a discussion could take place between the BCCI, along with the Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, and skipper Rohit Sharma. Additionally, these discussions come into picture as the BCCI is not keen to repeat the 2011 saga when all of the senior players retired.
Speaking of Team India’s qualification in the WTC Final 2025, they would require a 4-0 result Down Under. They can still qualify for the WTC Final after losing the BGT 2024-25 only if other teams don’t fare well. The highly-anticipated BGT 2025-25 is set to commence from November 22 in Perth, followed by a match each in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.