Indian T20 Team to Take 2-3 Years to Recover from Kohli, Sharma Retirements

The Indian cricket team will require two to three years to regain its dominance in T20 cricket following the international retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, according to BCCI President Roger Binny.

Kohli, 35, and Sharma, 37, played pivotal roles in India's second T20 World Cup triumph on Saturday, defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final. However, both players have now stepped away from the T20I format.

"There is so much talent in the IPL, and many cricketers are coming through, but it will take some time to bridge the gap after the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is," Binny said.

"They have contributed so much. It's going to take time. We will probably see in the next two-three years, the team coming back into its own without them."

Sharma leaves T20Is with 4231 runs from 159 matches, including five centuries and 32 fifties. Kohli, in 125 T20I matches, scored 4188 runs at an average of 48.69, with his highest score being 122 against Afghanistan in 2022.

Both players will continue to play in the IPL and represent India in ODIs and Tests.

Binny, who was part of India's 1983 ODI World Cup-winning team, believes that the maiden World Cup victory transformed India from underdogs to contenders.

"In 1983, we went as underdogs. But after that, that tag was taken off us. Whenever we go into World Cup, people expect India to win. No one is taking us lightly anymore," he said.

The conclusion of the T20 World Cup marks the end of Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach. There is speculation that former opener Gautam Gambhir will replace him, but Binny declined to comment on the matter.

"Nothing concrete has come yet. Gautam Gambhir has a lot of experience. He has worked with teams. He played Test matches, ODIs, T20s. Let's see," he said.

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