As Team India prepares to announce its new head coach, speculation is rife that Gautam Gambhir, the leading candidate, might make the tough decision to exclude some senior members of the squad to bring in fresh talent. Among the names being discussed for possible exclusion are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have been pivotal figures in Indian cricket for years.

These rumours suggest that Gambhir if appointed, might focus on rejuvenating the team with younger players. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have already retired from T20 Internationals following India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against South Africa in the Caribbean.

Both players are now expected to concentrate on longer formats of the game. India’s next major objectives are winning the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

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BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that senior players will continue to play a crucial role in these upcoming events. “I want India to win all the titles. We have the biggest bench strength, and only three players from this team are going to Zimbabwe. We can field three teams if the need arises. The way this team is progressing, our target is to win the World Test Championship final and Champions Trophy. The seniors will be there,” Jay Shah told PTI.

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan, though it remains uncertain if the BCCI will send the Indian team to participate. Reports indicate that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has set the tournament window from February 19 to March 9, 2025.

Additionally, the WTC Final is slated for June 2025 in London. In the current 2023-2025 WTC cycle, India leads the points table with a percentage point of 68.52 from nine matches, while Australia follows in second place with 62.50 percentage points. The top two teams at the end of this cycle will compete in the final next year.

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As India navigates these crucial tournaments, the presence of experienced players like Kohli and Sharma, combined with the potential strategic shifts under new leadership, could shape the future of Indian cricket in significant ways. The focus remains on maintaining a balance between seasoned expertise and emerging talent to achieve success on the international stage.