Rohit Sharma likely to retire from T20Is after World Cup 2023 debacle

Rohit Sharma is currently India's ODI and Test captain but he is unlikely to feature in T20 Internationals anymore, with discussions about his future in the shortest format reportedly taking place before the commencement of the 50-over World Cup, as per sources in the Indian Cricket Board (ICB). Rohit has not participated in any T20Is since India's exit in the T20 World Cup semi-final in November 2022.

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Subsequently, Hardik Pandya has predominantly captained the Indian team in T20Is. The 36-year-old skipper has an impressive T20I record, having played 148 matches, scoring 3853 runs at a strike rate of nearly 140, including four centuries. But it is also the truth that Rohit has been absent from India's T20I squad since the 2022 T20 World Cup, where the team suffered a semifinal defeat against England. Subsequently, there have been speculations that senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami might no longer be part of the Indian T20 setup as the team looks to redefine its approach to T20 cricket.

"It is not a new development. Rohit hasn't played any T20Is in past one year as the focus was on ODI World Cup. He had extensive discussions with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar in this regard. He has himself volunteered to stay away from T20Is. It has completely been Rohit's call," a senior ICB source told PTI as per reported by NDTV Sports.

Rohit makes way for young crop of players

Following Rohit Sharma, India boasts four capable openers in Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, all proven performers in the IPL. If the emerging talents falter, the selectors or ICB officials might encourage Rohit to reconsider his current stance. Given his career stage, Rohit seeks to manage his workload, prioritizing injury prevention for the latter part of his career.

Balancing three formats and the IPL annually is challenging, especially with seven Tests scheduled between December 2023 and March 2024. Rohit's primary focus will likely shift to red-ball cricket. Despite this, he remains a strong contender to lead India to another World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2025, backed by his impressive form in the traditional format since becoming an opener for India in 2019.