Top 5 Indian players who could retire from ODIs after 2023 World Cup

In the final held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, India experienced a setback, facing a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia. Despite delivering a commendable performance throughout the tournament, India encountered a stumbling block in the final moments. With a streak of ten consecutive wins, the Indian team had entered the final as strong contenders and arguably the favorites to clinch the title, appearing more in-form compared to the Australian team.

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Opting to bat first, India posted a modest total of 240 runs on a dry surface. In reply, Australia comfortably chased down the target, with Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne forming a remarkable partnership for the fourth wicket. Several Indian players may have participated in their final World Cup and could potentially retire from the format in the near future. However, the final outcome didn't align with the earlier momentum, resulting in India falling short in their quest for victory.

Let us look at top five India players who might have played their last World Cup in ODI format;

Ravichandran Ashwin

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Ravichandran Ashwin is considered India's premier off-spinner, He was anticipated to make a significant impact in the 2023 World Cup. Unfortunately, he had only one appearance in the tournament, and given his age, it seems unlikely that he will be included in ODI squads moving forward. Consequently, the legendary bowler might contemplate retiring from the 50-over format to concentrate on Test cricket. Despite the star India off-spinner getting the opportunity to play in just one match in the World Cup 2023, his contribution and experience in the squad was very much crucial. 

Ravindra Jadeja

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The star India all-round cricketer Ravindra Jadeja demonstrated exceptional all-round abilities during the 2023 World Cup, accumulating 120 runs and claiming 16 wickets in the tournament. Despite his outstanding performance, the almost 35-year-old is likely to have played his last World Cup game. It seems probable that he will persist in playing Test matches while contemplating retirement from the limited-overs formats in the near future.

Rohit Sharma

The 2023 edition of the World Cup will definitely be remembered and celebrated for Rohit Sharma’s dazzling stroke play. Rohit played a pivotal role in leading India, accumulating an impressive 597 runs with a remarkable strike rate of 125.95 during the World Cup.

Nevertheless, with the team experiencing defeat in the final, Rohit might soon step down from the ODI captaincy, passing the leadership to another player. At 36 years old, and considering the next World Cup is scheduled four years later, it wouldn't be unexpected if Rohit announces his retirement from One Day Internationals in the near future.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli's exceptional batting prowess defined the tournament, as India's number three consistently scored at least a half-century in nine out of his 11 innings. His remarkable total of 765 runs in the competition establishes a new record for the most runs scored by an individual batter in a men's Cricket World Cup, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's previous record of 673 runs in the 2003 tournament.

Finishing with an impressive average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31, Kohli recorded three centuries during the tournament – against Bangladesh and South Africa in the league stage and a crucial one against New Zealand in the semi-finals. This third century elevated Kohli's career tally to 50 One Day International hundreds, solidifying his position as the leading century-maker in the history of the format. Kohli achieved this milestone by surpassing Tendulkar's longstanding record at the Wankhede Stadium, a fitting and significant moment in his career.

Mohammed Shami

The veteran India fast bowler Mohammed Shami had a remarkable World Cup, claiming an impressive 25 wickets at an astonishing strike rate of 11.72. Despite his outstanding efforts, Shami fell short of securing a World Cup-winning title, a sentiment that is undoubtedly disheartening.

It is also to be considered that Shami is already 33 years old, it seems unlikely that he will be a part of the ODI cricket landscape in the future. Anticipating India's focus on transitioning to a new phase, it is conceivable that Shami might soon announce his retirement from One Day Internationals.