3 Indians who could retire from ODIs after Asia Cup 2023 -TGN

The 2023 Asia Cup will be a major event for the Indian team as the continental tournament, to be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will serve as the perfect rehearsal for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India later in the year.

With the selection of the 2023 Asia Cup – when it is announced – it will also become clear who the players are that the management and selectors are likely to choose for the World Cup. Because the 15-man Asia Cup team will almost certainly resemble almost the same team that will be picked for the World Cup.

This means some senior players could get the big hint that if they don’t get picked for the Asia Cup, they most likely won’t be part of the World Cup either. A few senior Indian players are already on the wrong side of their 30s – for an athlete – and could be planning their retirement after or before the 2023 Asia Cup.

Here are 3 senior Indian players who could retire after Asia Cup 2023:

Shikhar Dhawan

The 2023 World Cup would have been the last shot of 37-year-old Shikhar Dhawan. However, the left-handed opener has already moved out of the Indian team as Shubman Gill has taken his place as Rohit’s opening partner, while Ishan Kishan, the left-handed keeper, is touted as a backup opener to Rohit and Gill.

Dhawan was 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 early this year following his mediocre performance in 2022 and the emergence of Gill.

Bhuvneswar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, once a key part of the ODI squad, as a powerful new-ball exponent, has lost his place of all sizes in the Indian team due to poor form and injury problems.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played an ODI for India in January 2022. The fact that he hasn’t even played 50-over domestic games in the Vijay Hazare tournament says his fitness is still not at the level where he can bowl 10 overs a day. The 33-year-old may even retire from ODI cricket this year and focus on his fitness to only bowl in T20s.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Even though Washington Sundar is not in the squad, by not selecting 36-year-old R Ashwin for the upcoming ODI series in the West Indies, the selectors and management have made it clear that he does not appear to be playing any more ODI matches.

Ashwin’s last ODI game was in January 2022. Ever since Axar Patel has emerged as a great spin bowling all-rounder with impressive shows with the bat. Jadeja has been fixed while Axar, Kuldeep and Chahal are currently the spinners in the ODI team.