Gambhir Effect in play: Rohit & Kohli will continue despite rounding in discussions of replacement
There is speculation about whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will continue playing T20Is after the T20 World Cup 2024.
Both have struggled with form in the tournament, with Rohit facing challenges in adapting to the conditions and Kohli struggling to find his usual rhythm. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t made an official announcement, a PTI report suggests that they will likely focus on ODIs and Tests, with nine WTC Tests scheduled from September 2024 to January 2025. Jasprit Bumrah is also expected to be excluded from the T20I team to concentrate on red-ball cricket. A BCCI source indicated that younger players who excelled in IPL 2024, such as Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, Nitish Reddy, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yash Dayal, will be included in the squad, with some heading to Zimbabwe for T20Is.
Shreyas Iyer, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain who led his team to victory and strongly performed in the World Cup, might join the team for the ODI series in Sri Lanka. Other IPL stars, including Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed, will also likely travel to Zimbabwe. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are expected to be the captain and vice-captain, respectively, unless they are rested. Shreyas Iyer’s potential comeback to the Indian team may be linked to Gautam Gambhir, KKR’s mentor. Reports suggest Gambhir is poised to replace Rahul Dravid as India’s Head Coach. Gambhir’s leadership, which helped KKR secure an IPL victory after a decade, could bring a new era to Indian cricket. Iyer and Ishan Kishan were previously dropped from BCCI’s central contracts due to their alleged reluctance to play in the Ranji Trophy, though Iyer cited a lower back issue. Gambhir has reportedly requested complete control of the team and separate squads for white-ball and red-ball cricket, demands the BCCI is said to have agreed to. These potential changes in leadership and coaching staff could shape the future of Indian cricket.
