With the ICC World Cup 2019 just hours away, all of the teams will head on with each other–to get their hands on the most coveted trophy. And recently the announcement of the team squads was like the trumpet blown before the war.
Like the other nine, India too has announced their 15-man squad for the big game. While some of them were engaged in the recently held Indian Premier League 2019, they seem to be one of the strongest teams. The team has a complete package of seasoned players and young talents for the World Cup.
This amalgamation of experience and youth will come handy for the team. Players like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have the expertise to channelise the energy of the young talent such as Hardik Pandya. Where the veteran stars will be playing their third or fourth WC, players like KL Rahul will be playing their first.
Almost every time a World Cup is conducted, some or the other player declares their retirement from the event. Like the last time, India won the World Cup (in 2011), the cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar announced his retirement. He appeared in six editions of the tournament before bidding farewell.
And this year it is most likely that one of the Indian will take their retirement from the big game. Thus, making the tournament even more special and an emotional one as possibly one of the legends will be playing his last World Cup.
Here are the names of the three Indian players who might be playing their last tournament.
Dinesh Karthik:
The wicketkeeper-batsman of veteran Ganguly era has been playing in the Indian cricket for about 14 years now. He came into limelight during the third ODI against England in 2004, where he cleverly stumped Michael Vaughan. Karthik got better of England’s top-scorer on Harbhajan’s wide ball, as the batsman looked to charge the off-spinner.
The likes of MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag had kept the Kerela guy in and out of the team throughout his cricket career. He struggled with his batting form in the game while making blunders in wicketkeeping during 2007 Sri Lanka Test match. Karthik continuously fought to make a permanent place in the national team.
In the limited opportunities he had been given, Karthik averages with 31.04 in 77 ODI innings he had played. While his scores might not reflect much about his performance, Karthik has been given least chances in the international games for the team. He had played a total of 145 innings in 14 years of his cricket span, while rarely being the first choice in playing XI.
In ICC World Cup 2019, he has been chosen as the backup wicketkeeper for the team. This year in June, Karthik will be 34, and the next World Cup is scheduled in 2023. By then, he will be of around 39 years old, and his strength might wear off as a wicketkeeper or batsman or both. Hence, it is most likely to say that Karthik might be playing his last World Cup, this year.
Kedhar Jadhav:
The 34-years-old Kedar Jadhav will be playing his maiden World Cup this year. Although it took Jadhav some time to gain a position in the national side, he has changed the meaning of middle-order batting. Jadhav has recently been quite amazing and consistent at No. 6 and has strengthened the middle order of Indian batting squad.
Jadhav has made his international debut in late 2014 and had given his best in many successful run chases.
One of his remarkable performance was where he overshadowed skipper Virat Kohli. It was during early 2017 in a match against England, where he launched a stunning counterattack to lift his team from 63-4 and hit a century. He proved his mettle in the game and showed what he got in his pocket.
Although his good performances have just started piling up, he could most probably take retirement from the game before next World Cup event. His age could be the reason behind this as by 2023 World Cup Jadhav will be more than 38 years old.
Also, the emergence of young talent in the nation will most likely replace players of his age in the national team.
Therefore, it is most probably right to predict that he won’t be able to feature in the next World Cup, no matter how short his presence has been in the game.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni:
The pump-operator of Ranchi who to took rebirth on 2nd April 2011 and brought the coveted trophy back home after 28 years since 1983. The legend who made new records and bewitched India with his bizarre-but-effective stroke-play. The local lad with long strands took Indian cricket to another level with his trademark helicopter shot.
MS Dhoni or “Dhoni Bhai” or “Thala” is the beloved cricketer of India who became the only skipper of India to win all the ICC tournaments. His calm and composed demeanour on the field during a match is what earned him the title of ‘Captain Cool’. And counting from 2011, he will be playing his third and most likely last World Cup tournament.
There were a lot of speculations in early 2018 because of his loosening hold on the bat, and people doubted his selection for the World Cup 2019.
However, Dhoni emerged stronger than that and has been smashing bowlers since the beginning of 2019.
Dhoni is most likely to play this as his last tournament in his 14 years of cricket career. The once small-town boy is 37 years old, and in July he will turn 38. And given to his age, it is most probably his last tournament. He has 341 ODI appearances in these 14 years and had surpassed the total of 10,000 runs in the ODIs.
Well, it is going to be an emotional moment for his team, his friends and mostly for his fans just like the 2011 World Cup after which Sachin bid his goodbye from ODIs in 2012.
It will be hard to find a replacement for such legend and keen-minded player. And India would want to end this journey with a fairytale goodbye by winning the trophy this year.