On Monday, May 12, Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement. After days of speculations and rumours floating on the internet, the former India skipper took to social media platforms to announce his decision. The news has sent the fans into a shockwave as Kohli bid adieu to the game at the age of 36 and won't feature for India in the upcoming WTC cycle.
It is worth noting that Virat, in his 14-year-long Test career, has represented India in two WTC cycles - (2019-21, 2021-23). On both occasions, India fell short in the finals and ended up as the runners-up.
A lot occurred in the recently concluded WTC cycle as several India stars announced retirement. Notably, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma have also left the game. Meanwhile, this article will look at three India batters who can bid adieu to the game in the upcoming WTC cycle.
1.Ajinkya Rahane Rahane, who is doing well for himself in IPL 2025 with KKR, has been out of India's Test team for a while and it looks like retirement is on the cards for the KKR skipper. Notably, Ajinkya, who is a red-ball talisman, has played just one series for India in the 2023-25 WTC cycle.
Thus, it is evident that the right-hand batter is not in selectors' scheme of things and with no game time in the traditional format of the match, the Mumbai-based star might also look to bid adieu to the game by following the footsteps of his former teammates Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Talking about Rahane's stats, then he played a crucial fifty-plus knock in WTC final, but managed to score just 11 runs in the two Tests against West Indies, which was India's first series of the next cycle and also proved to be Rahane's last for India.
Let's Look at Rahane's stats over the years in Test cricket. YearSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2023Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 146Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 68Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2021Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 479Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2020Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 272Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2019Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 642Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2018Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 644Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2.Cheteshwar Pujara Another name that might soon join Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the list is Cheteshwar Pujara. The 37-year-old, who needs no introduction when it comes to Test cricket, hasn't played for India in the last two years.
The critics feel that the time has come for the BCCI to focus on younger players and it is unlikely that the selectors will revert to Pujara for further chances in the traditional format of the game.
Let's look at Pujara's stats in Test cricket across the years. YearSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2023Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 181Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 409Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2021Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 702Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2020Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 163Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2019Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 507Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2018Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 837Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
3. Ravindra Jadeja Unlike Pujara and Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja continues to be a part of the Indian set-up, but it is likely that the left-arm all-rounder will complete the 2025-27 WTC cycle. The 36-year-old is a crucial part of the team, but his performance hasn't been upto the mark and he too might make way for the younger generation.
Talking about Jadeja, the southpaw scored just 135 runs in five innings against Australia, while he also failed with the bat against New Zealand.
Let's look at Jadeja's stats in Test cricket across the years.
YearSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
WicketsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2024Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 527Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 48Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2023Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 281Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 33Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 328Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 10Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2021Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 269Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 16Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2020Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 82Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2019Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 440Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 21Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Ajinkya Rahane - (Source : @Johns/X.com)
 "Abhinav Tyagi")
