The Asia Cup 2023 will be a significant event for the Indian team, as the continental tournament, which will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will serve as the perfect rehearsal for the ODI World Cup 2023 later in the year in India.
With the Asia Cup 2023 squad – whenever it is announced – what will also become clear is that who are the players the management and the selectors are likely to pick for the World Cup. Because the 15-man Asia Cup squad will most certainly resemble almost the same squad that will be picked for World Cup.
This means that some of the senior players could get the big hint that if they are not picked for Asia Cup, they will most likely be not part of the World Cup as well. A few senior Indian players are already on the wrong side of the 30s – for a sportsperson – and could plan their retirement after or before the Asia Cup 2023.
Here are 3 Indian senior players who could retire after Asia Cup 2023:
Shikhar Dhawan
The World Cup 2023 would have been the last shot of the 37-year-old Shikhar Dhawan. However, the left-handed opener is already shifted out of the Indian team as Shubman Gill has taken his spot as Rohit’s opening partner while Ishan Kishan, the left-handed keeper, is being touted as backup opener to Rohit and Gill.
Dhawan has been a giant of Indian cricket in ODIs – 6793 runs in 167 ODIs at an average of 44 with 17 centuries – but was left out of the team at the start of this year after his mediocre performances in 2022 and the rise of Gill.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Once a key cog of the ODI side, as a potent new-ball exponent, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has lost his place from all formats in the Indian team due to dipping form and injury issues.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI for India in January 2022. The fact that he hasn’t even played 50-over domestic matches in the Vijay Hazare tournament says that his fitness is still not up to the level where he can bowl 10 overs in a day. The 33-year-old might even bid a goodbye to ODI cricket this year and focus on his fitness to bowl in T20s only.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Even while Washington Sundar is not in the side, by not selecting the 36-year-old R Ashwin for the upcoming ODI series in West Indies, the selectors and the management have made it clear that they don’t seem him playing any more ODI matches.
Ashwin’s last ODI game was in January 2022. Since then Axar Patel has emerged as a terrific spin-bowling all-rounder with impressive shows with the bat. Jadeja is fixed while Axar, Kuldeep, and Chahal are currently the spinners in contention in the ODI team.
