WTC Final: Future of senior players in Tests at stake if India fumbles qualification

The Indian Cricket Team could see a major overhaul in the near future following the WTC Final in June 2025. Before their last home Test assignment, India looked poised to secure a first-place qualification for the 2025 WTC Final. However, when New Zealand arrived in India, the Kiwis delivered an unprecedented setback for the hosts. The visitors stunned India with a 3-0 series win on Indian soil. This whitewash against New Zealand was the first-ever experienced by the Indian team at home. Moreover, the White Ferns shattered India’s long-standing record of remaining unbeaten in a home Test series. While senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been enduring a prolonged dry spell, the New Zealand series exposed the team’s shortcomings, prompting the BCCI to take notice. According to a recent report, the board is likely to phase out senior players from the format if India fails to qualify for the upcoming WTC Final.

BCCI likely to phase out senior players from Tests if India fails to qualify for 2025 WTC Final

The future of India in the ongoing WTC cycle now depends entirely on the Border Gavaskar series in Australia. The team will play five matches down under with an aim to keep their PCT eligible for WTC Final qualification. However, if the team falls short of acing their goal, which is going to be a challenging one, then the onset of the new cycle will witness young prospects taking the center stage in the Indian team. Reportedly, the BCCI, in agreement with chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have given an ultimatum to the senior players of India squad.

"If India doesn't qualify for WTC final in England, one can be rest assured that all four super seniors won't be on that flight to UK for the ensuing five-Test series. In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together," a source from BCCI recently stated.

Consequently, it’s highly likely that the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia could be the final stint for at least two out of the four senior players, namely, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. All the above players are nearing the twilight of their careers.

India would need a 4-0 series victory to qualify outright for the WTC final, though achieving this result appears improbable at the moment with the current form of the Indian team. Even if India falls short to achieve the 4-0 record in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, they could still qualify if other teams like New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka fumble their chances. However, if India still fails to make the cut, the selection panel will likely focus on fresh talent as the next cycle kicks off with a five-Test series in England which is scheduled to start on June 20 at Leeds.

Reportedly, the board is keen on extending the rope to young prospects like Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, who are currently playing in Australia as part of the India A team. Moreover, Washington Sundar seems set in his place as the primary spin all-rounder option for the team who can replace the 38-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin in the future. Out of the four, Jadeja turns up as the only player who can continue for a while in red-ball cricket due to his exploits with both the bat and the ball. However, the loss against New Zealand might trigger the selection panel to opt Axar Patel ahead of Jadeja, especially for the series scheduled at home.

For the batting lineup, Rohit Sharma’s recent form is under scrutiny. Across the previous WTC cycles, the Indian skipper has managed to score just 1,210 runs in 35 home Test innings, averaging 37.81 with four centuries. However, his last 10 innings include six scores under 10, two under 20, and only two half-centuries. During the same timeframe, Virat Kohli has managed 742 runs in 25 home innings at an average of 30.91, with just one century in his credit. Virat Kohli, if scripts another turnaround in his form in the Border Gavaskar Trophy can vie for an extended stay, backed by his exceptional fitness. However, strong aspersions have been cast upon the future of Rohit Sharma in the setup.

In case India misses out on the WTC Final, the management will also be needed to find a reliable successor of Sharma as the captain of India. For now, Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed vice-captain of the team. However, with Bumrah's consistent presence not ensured due to workload management tactics, the selection panel can eye wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant as a likely replacement of Rohit Sharma as the Test captain.