Former England international Monty Panesar is very unhappy with India’s approach against England in the 20-20 World Cup semi-finals. The Men in Blue were on a backfoot right from the start and never looked like favourites to win the match. The duo of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma failed to step up once again while the bowlers looked pretty ordinary in the second innings.
Looking at the condition of the Indian team, the 40-year-old names three cricketers who might announce their retirement from T20 cricket before the ninth edition of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 in the West Indies and in the United States of America. Rohit Sharma, who’s 35 years old at the moment, was very poor in Australia and thus, he remains to be one of the possibilities while Panesar named Ravichandran Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik as well.
“Rohit (Sharma), Dinesh Karthik and R Ashwin are the top names who could say goodbye to T20I cricket. The team management will surely have a meeting with these guys and will ask them about their plans…It’s time these players make way for young player,” the former cricketer said.
The off-spinner also didn’t shy to call out the Indian cricketers after their shambolic performance in the semi-finals. He called it to be a one-sided affair as the Rohit Sharma-led side failed to make a mark and lost the match by 10 wickets.
“India disappointed everyone (with the way they lost in the semifinal), and I think there are some retirements coming up. Let’s be honest, India didn’t put up a fight in the semis. It was a completely one-sided affair. Indian bowling looked clueless in front of Buttler and Hales. You are playing the semis and you need to give a solid fight; 168 is not a small score,” the cricketer added.
You may see Virat Kohli in the 20-20 World Cup 2024
In which was a very disappointing tournament for the Indian team, there were multiple positives as well. Virat Kohli’s form is definitely one of that. The 34-year-old struggled a lot in the past two years but since the Asia Cup, he’s back to being at his very best. The former India captain finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer and with that, Panesar believes he still has the ability to play another 20-20 World Cup.
“Virat is in great form. He is the fittest among all the Indian players. Age is just a number for Virat considering his super fitness. You may see him in the 2024 20-20 World Cup. I am not seeing Rohit being part of that tournament, DK and Ashwin too (may not be there). There could be more players (considering T20I retirement), but these three, I think, will leave T20Is and focus on Tests and ODIs,” Panesar added.
