5 Indian players who can retire from at least one format in 2024

In the next few years, international cricket teams will play one World Event across all formats of the game. Two years back, the Apex Council decided to bring back the Champions Trophy, scrapped in 2017. The tournament is set to be played in February-March 2025. Apart from this, every T20 World Cup will see a two-year gap, which is always a tradition.

Apart from this, every two years, there will be a World Test Championship final, and just like in previous times, every four years will see an ODI World Cup. This means that the workload for the players will be high. It is quite evident that in the next few years, playing all three formats will be an achievement in itself. Meanwhile, in this listicle, we will have a look at players who might retire.

Five Indian players who might retire from at least one format

5. Shikhar Dhawan

The left-hander has been out of the team since January this year. Dhawan was an integral part of the ODI team, having played his last matches in Tests and T20I a few years back. However, with the next ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy a bit far away and him being 38 years old, it is highly likely that he might not make a comeback.

4. Rohit Sharma

The India skipper recently led the team during ODI World Cup 2023. Since then, he is yet to play a game as he has been rested for the concluded T20I series against Australia and the ongoing white-ball series in South Africa. Sharma hasn't played a T20I game since the T20 World Cup 2022. While the current reports suggest that the 36-year-old might lead the team in 2024 edition, there is a chance that he might retire from the shortest format next year.

3. Virat Kohli

The former India skipper has also not played since the ODI World Cup 2023 and is yet to play a T20I since the T20 World Cup last year. Recent reports suggest that Kohli might not get to play and be replaced by Ishan Kishan at number three. Whether the former plays this tournament or not, he might retire from the shortest format of the game to prolong his career in bigger forms of the game.

2. Ajinkya Rahane 

The former India vice-captain made his comeback in the team for the World Test Championship 2023 final. For the first time after early 2022, Rahane played for the team and went on to play two Tests against the West Indies. Even though the right-hander did well with the bat, he failed against the Carribeans which is why he has been dropped. With younger players coming up in the middle order and him being on the wrong side of the 30s, the Border-Gavaskar 2020-21 winning captain might retire from international cricket. 

1. Cheteshwar Pujara

Another former Test vice-captain has been out of the team during the 2022 and 2023 seasons although he played a few games. In the last couple of years, he has been looking like his shadow self and was dropped from the team for the West Indies series. Pujara hasn't been included in the upcoming South Africa and him being in the mid-30s, he might retire from the game.