Following the loss in the second ODI against England, numerous discussions are taking place around Rohit Sharma. In the first two matches of the three-series tournament, Rohit Sharma showed poor form, making the third ODI at Lord's in England extremely important for him. Speculation is appearing on social media that this match could be Rohit Sharma's last ODI.
After a series of poor performances, Rohit Sharma has faced rumors about a possible retirement from ODI format. However, there has been no official statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding Rohit. Nevertheless, selection committees are currently focused on preparing the team for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which opens up opportunities to test young players in the opening slots.
A key question arises: who will fill the big void after Rohit Sharma's departure? The Indian team needs a partner who can strengthen the batting order before the next World Cup. Among the candidates to replace Rohit is Yashvi Jaiswal. Previously, the duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma dominated the opening slot for a long time. In the future, left-handed batter Yashvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill might play in this position.
Sanju Samson, who opened games for India in T20, could also start an innings in ODI format. Although Sanju Samson has repeatedly proven his worth in the middle order in ODI format when given the opportunity to bat, he made a splash with his aggressive play. If Sanju can secure a spot over the next year, he would be an excellent option.
Rohit Sharma is known for scoring big runs quickly. In contrast, Sai Sudarshan's approach is more measured. Having such a player in the opening slot in ODI format guarantees a balanced start for the team. Sudarshan rarely loses his wicket and has demonstrated outstanding performance in both domestic cricket and the IPL.
Ritardh possesses exceptional skill in rotating the strike and changing the pace of the game when necessary, which he demonstrates in both domestic cricket and the IPL. If he is given consistent opportunities in ODI format, he could present a strong candidate option for the World Cup team.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has become one of the dangerous players in Indian cricket. He has already shown his abilities in domestic and franchise cricket due to his fearless play. If he continues to score runs, the selection committees might bet on him as a surprise for the 2027 World Cup.
Ishan Kishan, who attracted attention during the T20 World Cup with his impactful performances against opponents, is currently facing difficulties in Europe. His tour of Europe has turned out to be more of a nightmare, as he is fighting for every run.
Despite Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer managing to score at times, Kishan's bat has remained silent. In matches against Ireland and England, Kishan scored 79 runs in six matches with an average of 13.16 and a strike rate of 108.21. The problem is not only the poor figures but also that he consistently loses wickets in the same manner. He has yet to adapt to the bounce and movement of European pitches.
In Belfast, playing against Ireland, Kishan scored 1 and 12 runs. Then, in the first T20I against England, he returned to the dressing room without a single run. In the second T20I in Manchester, he scored 49 runs off 40 balls, but could not maintain his rhythm afterward. In Nottingham, he scored 13 runs, and in Bristol, only 4 runs.
These figures are extremely disappointing for a player considered among the best in the world. His current slump is surprising, considering he was in the best form of his career just a few months ago. Before returning to the Indian squad, Kishan demonstrated powerful play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, hitting the bowlers hard and scoring 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.32, which helped Jharkhand win the title.
After this, when Kishan returned to the Indian team, his form did not wane. From January until the T20 World Cup 2026, he showed brilliant play, playing in 13 international T20 matches and scoring 532 runs at an average of 40.92 and a strike rate of 207.
Subsequently, in the IPL 2026, Kishan scored 602 runs at a strike rate of 182.42. However, as soon as he arrived in Europe, it seemed his game was affected by something. More concerning than his failure is the way he gets out of the game. In the last six matches, he has been dismissed twice via bowled and four times via caught.
His last three matches against England particularly demonstrate the story of a player who has failed to understand the extra bounce and ball movement in local conditions. In Manchester, when Kishan was approaching fifty, he attempted a big shot at a ball coming outside the off stump from Sam Curran. The ball did not connect properly with the bat, and Liam Dawson easily caught it on the extra cover. In Nottingham, Kishan fell victim to English bowling tactics again: Josh Tongue bowled a short ball, and Kishan tried to play a pull shot but could not control the extra bounce and was caught in deep backward square leg.
The situation did not change in Bristol either. Josh Tongue bowled a medium-length ball that bounced outside the off stump, and Kishan again tried to pull the ball but hit the top edge, and Sam Curran caught it at short third man.
Three matches and three catches. Each time Kishan tried to put power into the ball, but the lack of control in English conditions proved fatal for him. Recently, Sanju Samson and 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi have been the most discussed names in Indian cricket. While Kishan is in poor form, his problems remain unnoticed. However, the statistics reveal the complexity of his situation.
Kishan's poor performance also reflects the current state of the Indian team. After winning the T20 World Cup, a strong start in the new cycle was expected, but under Shreyas Iyer's leadership, the team has failed to win a single T20I match. First, Ireland achieved a historic feat by defeating India 2-0, and now England has won the series.
The failures of the batsmen are one of the main reasons for the current state of the Indian team. The fifth and final T20 match between India and England will take place in Southampton. For the Indian team, which lost the series, this match is a last chance to save face, and for Ishan Kishan, it is an opportunity to regain his lost rhythm.
The Indian team squad for the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, scheduled for this month, was announced on July 6 (Monday). The selection committee formed a 15-member squad, which will be led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma remaining as vice-captain.
The selection committee has placed emphasis on both experienced athletes and young talents. Three international T20 matches between India and Zimbabwe are planned for July 23, 25, and 26 in Harare.
Sandeep Samson did not make the squad for the trip to Zimbabwe, which became one of the main topics of discussion. It is presumed that the selection committee decided to give him a rest, considering the constant workload and intensity of training. Although Sandeep Samson plays only in one format, his exclusion was perceived as a very unexpected decision.
Probsimaran Singh has been included in place of Sandeep Samson as a batter-bowler. Previously, Probsimaran participated in the Indian squad at the 2023 Asian Games, but he was not given the opportunity to play in any match then. If he manages to secure a spot in the starting five during the visit to Zimbabwe, he will aim to make his mark in international cricket. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has been included as a primary batter-bowler.
The return of explosive batter Rinku Singh to the Indian T20 squad is complete. Previously, Rinku could not be selected for the Indian tours in Ireland and England, nor for the 2026 Asian Games. Now, the selection committee has entrusted him with its hopes once again. Rinku is considered one of the best finishers in Indian T20 cricket.
He possesses the ability to score quickly in the final overs. His return is expected to strengthen the middle and lower order of the Indian team. The visit to Zimbabwe is also important for Rinku, as competition for a spot in the Indian T20 team is constantly increasing, and he needs to maximize the opportunities he gets.
Furthermore, Mayank Yadav has returned to the squad, attracting attention with his powerful pace. Mayank last played for India internationally in October 2024. After that, he was absent from the team for a long time due to fitness issues and injuries. Now, the selection committee has relied on Mayank again for the visit to Zimbabwe. Everyone is closely monitoring his physical condition; if he can perform well throughout the series, he could become an important part of the fast bowling attack in the future.
15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has also remained in the Indian squad for the visit to Zimbabwe. Vaibhav debuted internationally in a T20I match against England held in Manchester. Debuting at such a young age, Vaibhav made history by scoring only 14 runs in his first match but demonstrated fearless play by hitting two sixes.
In addition to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, other young players such as Suryaansh Shedge, Harsh Dubey, and Prince Yadav have also been included in the team. This indicates that the selection committee views the visit to Zimbabwe as an opportunity to groom future players. This tour will be crucial for these young athletes, and a brilliant performance against Zimbabwe could include them in the development plans of the Indian T20 team.
The selection committee has included fast bowlers Ashok Sharma and Yash Thakur for the first time. This will be a big career opportunity for both players. At the same time, some other players, such as Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh, were not selected. It is assumed that many of them were given a rest considering the tight schedule and workload management.
The full Indian squad for the visit to Zimbabwe includes: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (batter-bowler), Shivam Dubey, Suryaansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Varun Chakravarthy, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, and Probsimaran Singh (batter-bowler).
The schedule of India's matches in Zimbabwe is as follows: First T20 on July 23 in Harare at 16:30; Second T20 on July 25 in Harare at 16:30; Third T20 on July 26 in Harare at 16:30.
