Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's retirement incoming? Adam Gilchrist shocks BCCI with 'ageing players' statement

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist rang alarm bells for Team India after New Zealand shocked them with a 0-3 whitewash in the three-Test series on their home soil. This marked a historic low, as India faced its first clean-sweep defeat at home in 25 years, a memory that hurts all the more since their Test series loss to South Africa in 2000.

The Indian cricket team was not able to recover from its defeats in the first and second Test in Bengaluru and Pune respectively, as they suffered another crushing 25-run loss in the third and final Test in Mumbai against New Zealand.

Adam Gilchrist sends warning to Team India after historic 0-3 Test series whitewash by New Zealand

Adam Gilchrist said that this embarrassing defeat has left the Indian squad with some serious introspection ahead. The legendary Australian cricketer further noted that this home Test series defeat would weigh heavily on Team India, hinting that this round of self-reflection could be intense for all the players, coaches, and team management.

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With the legacy of Indian cricket now challenged by this setback, Adam Gilchrist hinted at growing expectations and immense national pressure, which could become an unavoidable reality for Rohit Sharma and his team ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Furthermore, Gilchrist suggested that Team India’s passionate fanbase will be watching closely, eager for answers and a drastic turnaround. In a cricket-loving country where victories are celebrated intensely, Gilchrist reckoned that the clean sweep by New Zealand could lead to some uncomfortable internal reviews, having already raised hard questions.

This whitewash will have huge impact on Team India and players: Adam Gilchrist

With India’s loss standing as an unexpected blow in recent Test history, the former Australian wicketkeeper-batter said that they are currently facing calls for change and renewed strategies ahead of their next big challenge in Australia, where Team India will defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Adam Gilchrist was quoted as saying by Fox Sports: “It does (have an impact), more for the Indian players and the Indian team internally. They have to be asking themselves pretty hard questions. I’m not expecting them to come out and be easy beats, but I do think on the back of that loss and the fact that it was a clean sweep.

I cannot remember when that’s happened to them, just losing a series, let alone a clean sweep. I think that will raise some questions internally, and the pressure, the expectation, and the desire from a passionate cricketing nation to see that change around—that'll ride heavily on those shoulders of all those players.”

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'There are a few ageing players.....'

It is being said that the BCCI will take a call on the future of senior players if India fails to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship final. And the commentator feels it would be interesting to see how a few ageing players rebound.

Gilchrist signed off by saying, “There are a few ageing players there who may start to even second-guess themselves a little bit. There’s some high-class cricketers in that Indian squad. It’s going to be fascinating to see how they rebound from that challenge.”