The World Cup, the dizziest stage of white ball cricket. No surprise that the enormity of the occasion spurs players on to vie for glory. Held every four years, it also means that this edition is going to be the last for several modern-day greats. Some have hinted at retirement, for others it’s assumed they may not be active in the arena in 2027. Indranil Majumdar looks at some of the game’s greats whose last championship this will be
Rohit Sharma
The Team India captain missed out on a 2011 World Cup berth after Mahendra Singh Dhoni voted in favour of Piyush Chawla. The talented batter though didn’t lose hope and has excelled in the subsequent editions.
Following a decent World Cup in 2015, he finished the 2019 edition with a record five centuries in nine matches, aggregating 648 runs at an average of 81.00.
The expectations of a similar or better performance will always linger as he realises his dream of playing a World Cup at home. The pressure will be vastly different this time but Sharma, 36, will be keen to sign off on a high.
After all, this is the only ICC trophy missing from his cabinet after being a part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy teams.
Virat Kohli
Considering his fitness and the passion to reach the next level at every given opportunity, it is hard to write Kohli off. But there is this growing feeling that he might step away from this format before the next World Cup.
A member of the triumphant 2011 squad at 23, he would love to attain a “double” at home. His courageous captaincy and elegant batting were just not enough to clinch India a final berth in the last edition.
Kohli will turn 35 in November in the midst of what will be his fourth ODI World Cup. To prolong his career, he will prefer to pick and choose since it would be a mighty ask to survive in all formats. Test cricket remains the pinnacle for him and it would not be surprising if he gives up on T20Is or ODIs.
India’s performance in the quadrennial showpiece event may also dictate his intentions in the near future.
David Warner
The Australian opener has alrea- dy made public his intentions to retire after the Test series against Pakistan at home next year. This World Cup is set to be his last though he intends to continue playing international cricket till the T20 World Cup in June.
The mainstay of Australia’s batting at the top, there’s no debate over his place in the XI. The last edition was his most productive (647 runs at 71.88). He has since struggled with his strike-rate but improved significantly in the lead-up to the tournament.
Warner’s familiarity with the conditions, having been a regular in the IPL, will put him in good stead. The circumstances will be challenging but he will dare to attack to make his swansong memorable.
Steve Smith
The former Australian captain is back in the side following a break for damaged tendons in his left wrist. He missed the white ball series in South Africa.
The team management has already put a succession plan in place for the ODI and T20I teams with Mitch Marsh set to take over the captaincy mantle after Pat Cummins.
The Aussies have always been far-sighted in their plans and know well that the Smith era is coming to an end. Marsh can act as the deputy to Cummins once Smith calls it quits.
Like Kohli, Smith may also decide to shun white ball cricket to concentrate on Tests. He looked slightly short of match practice in 2019, having come back from his ban for his involvement in the Sandpapergate scandal in South Africa. He wouldn’t have to deal with such handicaps in what looks to be his last World Cup.
Ben Stokes
The England Test captain has made a comeback into 50-over cricket at the request of limited- overs captain Jos Buttler and it is a given that he will not continue any further.
The decision to come out of retirement was influenced by the lure of the World Cup and the desire to win another ICC tournament. Stokes though will be available only as a batter because of his dodgy knee.
The “once in a generation cricketer” Stokes’s form will again be the key to England’s fortunes. It has shown in their performance — a couple of World Cup triumphs, not to mention Ashes Tests.
Kane Williamson
The New Zealand captain was tipped to miss the World Cup because of knee surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the IPL. However, quick recovery from surgery has made his return possible and he will be available for the event.
One of the great modern-day batters, Williamson is unlikely to prolong his career, at least in this format. One reason could be his persistent battles with injuries along with the lure of playing franchise cricket.
Trent Boult
The New Zealand pacer follows the new template for modern cricketers. Having opted out of the central contracts, he has decided to make a fortune by playing the franchise leagues.
However, he is available for the ICC tournaments while giving the bilateral series a miss. At 34, it is unlikely he will take any further part in ODIs. His aim will be to build his career in T20 cricket for at least another couple of years. Boult belongs to the golden generation of New Zealand cricketers who rose above individual brilliance to perform as a team.
Shakib-al Hasan
The public spat between captain Hasan and senior pro-Tamim Iqbal, who was dropped from the squad, has eclipsed Bangladesh’s preparation for the showpiece event. He took over the captaincy after Tamim had quit in August.
At 36, Hasan is one of the oldest players in this edition. The star all-rounder has already admitted this would be his last World Cup since he plans to quit ODIs after the Champions Trophy in 2025.
