Border-Gavaskar Trophy: BCCI To Assess Test Futures Of Rohit, Virat, Jadeja And Ashwin After Australia Tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to assess the futures of four senior players following India’s disappointing 0-3 loss to New Zealand at home.

The upcoming series against Australia could mark the last for at least two of the four seniors: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, all of whom are nearing the end of their careers.

BCCI’s Consideration for Kohli and Sharma

A senior BCCI source revealed that “stocks will be taken” after the Australia series, indicating that if India fails to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, it is likely that Kohli and Sharma will not be part of the squad for the five-match Test series against England next year.

The source added, “In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together.” The BCCI plans to implement a structured phase-out policy before the start of the next WTC cycle, making the Australia series a critical point in the team’s transition.

“There will certainly be a review, likely of an informal nature, as the team departs for Australia on November 10. However, given the significant debacle against New Zealand and the squad already announced, there won’t be any changes at this stage,” the source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

“If India doesn’t qualify for the WTC final in England, it’s assured that all four senior players won’t be on that flight to the UK for the subsequent five-Test series. In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together,” the source added.

The BCCI is wary of repeating the mistakes of 2011, when an aging team struggled to perform, prompting selectors—particularly chairman Ajay Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir—to discuss future plans with the senior players.

For India to secure a direct route to the WTC final, they would need to achieve a 4-0 result against Australia, which currently appears to be a daunting task.

However, India could still qualify after losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, depending on the performances of other teams.

Can Team India Still Qualify For WTC Final After 0-3 Series Loss To New Zealand?