The T20 World Cup 2022 will put a full stop to many cricketers’ careers. It is quite common as teams look to identify the next set of players who can take things forward after every big event. It’s done by keeping the next showpiece event into consideration.
Team India are no exception to this process as they will also need to build a base for the upcoming assignments. There is a mixture of experienced and young players in the current squad. However, after the World Cup, young bloods will be given more preference.
In this article, we will take a look at three Indian names who might be playing their last T20 World Cup in 2022:
1) Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has been a vital cog of the Indian cricket team over the past decade. He has scored thousands of runs while opening the innings and is already one of the greatest openers ever to play the game of cricket.
The Mumbai-based cricketer is also the highest run-getter in T20I history. He has 3737 runs in 142 games under his hat, at an average of 31.94 and a strike-rate of 140.59. In the process, he also smashed 4 centuries and 28 fifties.
Rohit is already 35, hence, the management will be looking to hand over the captaincy duties to someone else who can lead the side for a long period of time. Moreover, his recent form has been a matter of concern. He might not be in the right shape and form for the next edition of the T20 World Cup.
2) Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik’s national team return is nothing short of an inspirational story. He announced himself on the international stage in 2004 and since then, has been in and out of the Indian side as the Men in Blue were blessed with the presence of MS Dhoni.
Karthik was awarded a national call-up following his impressive exploits with RCB in IPL 2022. Doing the finishing duties, he smashed 330 runs in 16 matches at a stunning strike-rate of 183.33.
For this showpiece event, Karthik is being preferred for the finishing role. However, the selectors are unlikely to continue with the 37-year-old once the event gets over. The likes of Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson will be preferred for sure.
3) Ravichandran Ashwin
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has taken the opportunity with both hands after he was recalled to the Indian T20I squad after a gap of seven months for the series against West Indies in July.
Although the right-arm spinner hasn’t picked many wickets, his spells have been very economical, which is always a plus point in the shortest format of the game. His experience and ability with the bat could also come into the picture in the tournament.
However, the 36-year-old is unlikely to get the backing post the event in Australia. The management will be looking to give more opportunities to young spinners in order to groom them for the future.
