The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday may have a massive bearing on the international future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as well. There is speculation that Rohit Sharma can step down from captaincy or even walk away from the 50-over format of the game after the final comes to an end on Sunday.
Both Rohit and Kohli had retired from T20 international cricket after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 title last year. Rohit Sharma has managed to bounce back well after a disastrous tour of Australia where Team India lost 3-1 following their 3-0 Test series whitewash at home at the hands of New Zealand. Indians failed to qualify for the World Test Championships (WTC) final for the first time in their history as well.
According to a report in Times of India newspaper, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir will be sitting down with Rohit Sharma to discuss his future plans. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have also delayed in announcing the new central contracts due to this reason.
“Rohit still believes there is some cricket left in him. He has been told to communicate his plans going forward. Retiring is his call but there will be another discussion around continuing with captaincy. Rohit himself understands the need to have a stable captain if the team wants to prepare for a World Cup. There have been talks with Kohli too but there doesn’t seem to be much anxiety around him,” a BCCI source told the Times of India newspaper.
“The board will wait for Rohit’s decision after the Champions Trophy. If by any chance he chooses to retire, then the board will see what needs to be done. One can’t discount the fact that he won the T20 World Cup in July and has led well in the Champions Trophy as well,” the source added.
Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli be demoted in BCCI contracts?
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are part of BCCI’s ‘A+’ contract worth Rs 7 crore a season. However, the ‘A+’ contract is normally reserved for cricketers who play all three formats of the game. With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announcing their retirement from T20 format of the game, it remains to be seen whether the will be retained in this same bracket or will be demoted to ‘A’ category.
Among the India cricketers, only Jasprit Bumrah is consistently playing all three formats of the game when he is fully fit.
Shreyas Iyer could get back central contract
Mumbai batter and new Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was not given a central contract last season but his fine performances in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy might earn him the right to win back a central contract.
Iyer is second-highest run-scorer for India currently with 195 runs in 4 matches with 2 fifties and average of 48.75. Kohli is the leading Indian run-scorer with 217 runs in 4 matches.
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