For many, the ODI World Cup remains the pinnacle of the game. However, with the increase in the number of T20 leagues and the financial benefits that come with it, along with the tightly packed cricketing schedule, there could be a number of retirements from ODI cricket after the 2023 World Cup, which will be held in India in November.
The 2023 World Cup will be a turning page in the careers of a number of players – those in their thirties will face the question of whether their bodies could go another four-year grind in the ODI format, which will once again be ignored in the wake of the T20 World Cup in 2024 and 2026 and Test cricket.
Here are 4 superstar cricketers who might hang their boots from the ODI format after the 2023 World Cup:
Hardik Pandya
Recently Ravi Shastri, the former India head coach, made the opinion that India’s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya could retire from ODI cricket after the 2023 World Cup at home. This statement from Shastri came in the wake of Ben Stokes’ retirement from ODI cricket earlier this year which has shaken everyone.
The England Test captain, Stokes, had already won the 2019 World Cup and sees T20 cricket as the format to make big bucks. The same would go for the likes of Pandya and other all-rounders who would want to be fit for the T20 matches.
Pandya recently led Gujarat Titans to an IPL title and also captained India in 3 T20Is matches; he hasn’t played Test cricket since 2018. So clearly, Pandya could become India’s T20 specialist going forward – especially if the BCCI allows their players to play in overseas leagues – because the format wouldn’t demand so much of him as 50-over cricket does.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan, who has played over 150 ODIs and amassed over 6000 runs, now features in only the ODI format for the Indian team. The 36-year-old opener is going strong in the 50-over format, and in the IPL, and is expected to open in next year’s World Cup at home.
After that, though, Dhawan either will have to hang up his boots himself or will most certainly be pushed aside by the selectors as he will be 38 by the time the tournament ends and in no way will be in India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup.
Trent Boult
Trent Boult recently made headlines and hogged the limelight by asking to be released from New Zealand’s central contract, to spend more time with his family and make himself available for T20 leagues, a decision which has divided opinions.
Nonetheless, Boult is now a freelancer and could opt out of playing for the Black Caps but play T20 leagues at his choice. The left-arm pacer, already into New Zealand’s cricket’s history books, is 33-year-old and has an experience of 93 ODI matches in which he’s taken 169 wickets.
He is a runner-up in the last two ODI World Cup, and the 2023 edition could well be his last shot at the elusive trophy. Boult has already made it clear that he would like to play in the T20 tournaments over New Zealand duty, and is likely to move away from the 50-over format after next year, and even Test cricket.
David Warner
David Warner is already currently having issues and conflicts with the Cricket Australian (CA) board about not being allowed to play in the South Africa or the UAE T20 league next year while skipping the BBL.
Warner, who will be over the age of 37 by next year’s ODI World Cup, is anticipated to either retire or stop playing the ODI format after 2023 given Australia would want younger players to prepare for the 2027 World Cup.
And perhaps, the left-hander even quit Test cricket away Ashes next year, and become a T20 freelancer, plying his trade all around the world; growing the legend of David Warner. A T20 behemoth, Warner is known to be amongst the richest Australian cricketers and will further want to give himself the best chance to make quick cash playing the shortest format in the end of his playing days.