New Delhi, India

Two batting stalwarts across formats in the past decade, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, gear up for the showdown in the Caribbean, with India facing South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final on Saturday in Barbados. Having served Indian cricket for over 15 years and won two ICC titles each, Virat and Rohit, knowing less about what the future holds for them, could be seen playing a T20 World Cup for the last time.

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Although none has commented anything about their T20I future, neither did the media try getting under their skin, but one can believe that both have perhaps reached the pinnacle in this format; if India wins their second T20 world title this time, what’s a better occasion to bow out than now?

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Rohit and Virat have seen it all in cricket – agony, ecstasy, heartbreaks and whatnot. With both being at the helm of the things in India’s countless failed campaigns since 2013, when India last won an ICC title (Champions Trophy), the two greats must be eager to end the trophy drought and walk away with their heads held high.

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Meanwhile, considering a change in the leadership and the backroom staff following this T20 World Cup, plenty will alter. Regardless of the result in the final against the Proteas, Rohit might continue to lead in the Tests and ODIs until the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, with chances of a new captain replacing him afterwards.

To back this, per the latest reports, Gautam Gambhir – the top contender to replace Dravid as Team India head coach, is said to have put out five conditions before accepting the offer, one of which reads that if India fails to win the eight-team competition next year, four senior players, including Virat, Rohit, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami, will be shown the door.

Not that the incoming coach has an agenda on the head, but the idea is to prepare a team with the right blend of experienced and young cricketers for the next 50-over World Cup in 2027, which was also one of the five conditions he laid.

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Eye on 2026 T20 World Cup

In between all of this, India would co-host the next T20 World Cup two years later in 2026. 

Given Rohit would be 39 by then, and Kohli would be 37, the selectors and the new backroom staff might want to back the youngsters at the top, considering the unbelievable pool of talent India has. 

However, with all eyes on the mega clash against the Proteas this time, Virat and Rohit will again look to put the Men in Blue off to a flyer. Although Rohit has been among runs, having scored two fifties in the previous two outings, veteran Virat hasn’t looked in his element. 

Rohit made his T20 World Cup debut in 2007, while Kohli played his first T20 WC five years later in 2012.