Four Indian Players Who Could Retire From Cricket In The Near Future

The Indian cricket has been performing well for the past few years across all formats. The team has a good mix of youth and experience. Young Indian players such as Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant are getting more and more opportunities in the national team.

Although, everything comes at a price. Unfortunately, only eleven players can take to the field at a time, for one team. Since there are limited places and young players get better only by playing matches, some senior players will have to sacrifice their place in the playing XI.

In the gentleman’s game, a player needs to have both good form and fitness to sustain the pressure of international cricket. As time progresses though, veteran players will retire and young lads will replace them.

Here are the four Indian players who could retire from cricket in the near future:

4) Shikhar Dhawan

Since 2013, Shikhar Dhawan formed a formidable opening partnership with Rohit Sharma and became a mainstay in the Indian team. However, age has caught up with Shikhar, and lately, he’s been suffering from form and fitness issues.

The 34-year-year-old has been one of India’s most explosive and reliable players in away conditions, although he’s not getting any younger, so Shikhar falls in the category of the Indian players who will retire from the national team soon.

Having said that though, the left-hander still has a good couple of years ahead of him, and he can still be a crucial player in limited-overs formats for Team India.

3) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

While Bhuvneshwar Kumar may not be as old as Shikhar Dhawan, he has been struggling for both form and fitness lately. ‘Bhuvi’ as he is lovingly called in India, the right-arm pace bowler is slowly moving towards the fag end of his career.

Since the retirement of Zaheer Khan, Bhuvneshwar took the responsibility of India’s marquee bowler on his shoulders and became a key player down the years. However, the 30-year-old has picked up constant niggling injuries for the past 1.5 years which could prove costly.

Jasprit Bumrah has replaced Bhuvi as India’s go-to man, but the national team is undoubtedly better with both these players in the playing XI. Having said that though, he is one of the Indian players who will retire from cricket in the foreseeable future.

2) Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma has been a consistent feature in India’s Test team being one of the most experienced campaigners in the squad. His form has been impeccable in the past, but Ishant has been suffering from injuries due to the nature of fast bowling.

The 31-year-old very recently came back from an injury to play Test series versus New Zealand and picked up some crucial wickets, but aggravated his ankle injury and is likely to be sidelined for more time now.

Now that India does not have too much Test cricket to play this year, the right-arm pacer has time to recuperate from the latest setback. Having said that, Ishant also features on the list of Indian players who will retire from cricket soon.

1) MS Dhoni

Having helped India win two World Cups, first the T20 World Cup in 2007, and then the 2011 ODI World Cup, MS Dhoni has etched his name in the history books forever. He was a key player, a lighting quick wicketkeeper, a leader, and a finisher for team India, but that time, unfortunately, is long gone.

The 38-year-old last donned the national colours in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal against New Zealand and has been on a sabbatical ever since. Dhoni has started preparations for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season but few people expect him to play for India again.

The veteran player is close to the end of an illustrious career, and there isn’t a lot of time left, before we hear the news of Dhoni hanging up his gloves from international cricket, forever.