Dinesh Karthik’s bold call for Team India’s next WTC cycle, needs these young players in the squad

In a disappointing turn of events, India fell short of their aspiration to win a global tournament once again during the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC). Australia emerged victorious, defeating the Rohit Sharma-led side by a huge margin of 209 runs. This marked a decade of India’s drought in ICC tournaments, as their last major win was the 2013 Champions Trophy.

While the immediate focus turns to the upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India in October-November, the attention of Indian cricket stakeholders has also turned to the 2023-25 ​​WTC cycle. While it is commendable for India to reach two consecutive WTC finals, their ultimate goal is to lift the trophy in 2025. However, reaching the finals will be no easy feat. With many Indian players being in their mid-30s, a transition period is inevitable. Calling for a change in the red-ball cricket team, veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has urged the selectors to give debuts to three uncapped players.

Karthik expressed, “I think a little bit of both. In many ways, we know a lot of them are in their mid-30s. So there are some questions for Rahul Dravid as to who he wants to keep and Who do you want to move forward with? , Now other names you may say, Bumrah, Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Pant. Iyer will walk in this team. Let’s make it very clear. I think he warrants a place in the team. In this cycle, he has been one of them. One of the main reasons why we are sitting and talking here in England today is because of the kind of success he has helped India achieve,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

He further added, “No.1 Yashasvi Jaiswal. He’s had a fantastic domestic season. Are we going to find a place for him? No.2 Sarfaraz Khan. It’s been a big name in the middle for a while now. If you find him fit So who are you going to leave and then Mukesh Kumar and others, is there any room for a new medium pacer to come in and stamp his authority over a period of time? Can you give him two years? Are you going to give a cycle?

Despite his exceptional record in first-class cricket, Sarfaraz Khan is yet to get a call-up for the Indian team, leaving many in the cricket fraternity shocked. Jaiswal and Mukesh were selected as part of a three-man reserve list along with the 15-man squad for the WTC final. Although Ruturaj Gaikwad’s name did not figure in Karthik’s list, the opener remains a strong contender. Gaikwad was initially included in the list of reserve players, but had to withdraw due to his marriage, leaving the door open for Jaiswal to join.