After the World Cup victory, Team India is facing Hurricane Berel in Barbados. The question in the minds of Team India fans has become as big as this hurricane who will replace Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja? Who has the strength to become Rohit, Virat, or Jadeja?
BCCI President Roger Binny has also admitted that it is tough to fill the place of Rohit-Virat. We have a lot of talent, but these legends will be missed. Binny told the media after the final, “There is a lot of talent in IPL. Many cricketers are coming through it but it will take time to fill this gap (after Rohit and Virat’s retirement).” He said, “Both have contributed so much that it will take time. Only after the next two or three years will the team be able to fill this gap and stand up.”
The question that is increasing the anxiety and restlessness of millions of Indian fans at this time is much more serious for Roger Binny, the president of the World Cup-winning BCCI. These pictures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the blue T-20 jersey with the World Cup trophy have been etched in the minds of the fans forever. The pictures of Rohit with his wife and daughter also touch the heart.
But beyond emotions, the mantra is that the show must go on. Cricket will go on. Hardik Pandya may have to take over Rohit’s responsibility in the next ICC Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup. Right now, he too is overwhelmed with the World Cup and these world leaders.
When Hardik was asked how do you see your role going forward? Two legends have retired from T20 and now you are expected to lead the team. How do you see 2026? Answering this, Hardik said, “There is still a lot of time for 2026. I am very happy for both Rohit and Virat… two legends of Indian cricket, who fully deserved this. It has been amazing to play with them for so many years. We will all miss them but at the same time, this is the best farewell we can give them.”
Before coming to the World Cup, Hardik Pandya was given the responsibility of the Mumbai Indians team and he flopped badly. But in the World Cup, leaving behind all the personal and professional problems, the world saw Hardik 2.0. A strong, determined, and responsible performer, a champion, a winner. Hopes have started rising again from Hardik.
Indian vice-captain Hardik Pandya, who took three wickets for 20 runs in the final, said on Saturday, “It means a lot. It is an emotional moment. We have been working very hard, but sometimes things don’t work out. However, today was a day when perhaps we were able to accomplish what the whole country wanted. A lot of people were supporting.”
Hardik further said, “This is even more special for me because of the way my last six months were. It felt like the six months that I had lost had come back. I controlled myself a lot. When I wanted to cry, I did not cry because I did not want to show it to people. All the people who were happy in my difficult times, I did not want to give them more happiness. By the grace of God, I got such a wonderful opportunity. In the last over, I was in such a situation that I could not even imagine.”
But no player in the world has the stature to wear the shoes of these giants– look at these figures– World champion captain Rohit has played 159 T20 international matches and has scored 4231 runs in them. Rohit is the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals. Apart from this, Rohit is the player who has played the most T20 international matches. Rohit has five centuries to his name in the shortest format of cricket, which is the most by any other batsman.
If we talk about Virat, King Kohli has scored 4188 runs in 125 T20 Internationals. He has scored runs in this format at an average of 48.7 and a strike rate of 137.1. Virat has won the Man of the Series award 7 times in T20 Internationals. Virat has 39 half-centuries in this format, which is the most compared to any other batsman.
At the same time, the world’s best all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has taken 54 wickets in 74 T20 international matches. During this, 515 runs have come from his bat. Jadeja has scored runs at a strike rate of 127.2 in T20 internationals and has taken 28 catches in the field, some of which have been brilliant.
The match-winning innings played by these three are a huge challenge for the young brigade and it will take a long time for them to even come close to them. However, some players can come close to these players and Suryakumar Yadav is one of them. Suryakumar Yadav has scored 2340 runs in 68 T20 Internationals. He has scored 4 centuries and 19 half-centuries in this format. Surya has scored runs at a strike rate of 167.8 in T20 Internationals.
Apart from this, eyes will also be on the emerging sensation of Youngistan Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has scored 502 runs in 17 T20 Internationals. Another name is Rinku Singh, who has scored 356 runs in 15 T20 matches played for India. Shubman Gill, who is one of the strong contenders to be the next captain of India, has scored 335 runs in 14 matches. While eyes will also be on Abhishek Sharma, who made it to Team India for the Zimbabwe tour based on his brilliant performance in the IPL.
Rohit and Virat have retired from T20 International and due to the increasing age of these players, the team management will try to form a new core team, which can include Shivam Dubey, Abhishek, Rinku, Yashasvi, Shubman, Chahal. Before the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup, the BCCI will try to form a core team by giving opportunities to many talented players like these.
But it will take a long time for all of them to become champions like Jadeja, Virat, or Rohit Sharma. Experts believe that the absence of veterans will be felt, but they have full faith in the bench of Team India. The good thing is that this time these veterans have also prepared the youth along with them and have also prepared the right formula for victory. The template of aggressive cricket is ready in front of the youth.. but everyone will keep an eye on how many youths can prepare themselves for this challenge.
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