Recently, Ben Stokes’ retirement from ODI cricket sparked a debate in the cricket fraternity. Many people opined that ODI cricket has nothing to offer and should be scrapped. On the other side, some defended it by saying that the 50-over World Cup is the most prestigious title in the world of Cricket.
Moreover, ICC also stated that the number of ODIs has not reduced, which indicates that the teams are still willing to play the format. But it is being estimated that in the coming years, more and more cricketers will give up on the ODI format as it requires more energy with less payout compared to the shortest format.
In this listicle, we will look at some cricketers who can give up the ODI format post the 2023 ICC World Cup:-
1) Hardik Pandya
In a recent interview, the former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri stated that Hardik Pandya might retire from the ODI format post the 2023 World Cup. The Baroda all-rounder has struggled a lot with fitness and back injuries in recent years. As a result, he might pick up his preferred formats to manage his workload.
Hardik might want to make a comeback in Test cricket as it is the most prestigious format of the game. And T20 cricket being his speciality, he might decide to retire from ODI cricket as the next World Cup will happen after four years, and by that time, it might be hard for him to move forward with the huge overload that comes for an all-rounder.
2) Trent Boult
Trent Boult being released from the New Zealand Cricket’s central contract implies that he is willing to slow down his pace on the international circuit. The pacer wants to spend more time with his family and play T20 leagues across the globe. However, it is clear that he will want to be a part of the 2023 World Cup.
However, post the tournament, he might just call it off from the format. The national team wants him in the Test format as the WTC will be ongoing, and he can’t leave T20 cricket, which will affect his selection in domestic leagues negatively. So the left-handed pacer would be willing to give up one format to manage his workload and prolong his career.
3) Shikhar Dhawan
Once a regular name on the team sheet, Shikhar Dhawan’s international career has seen a down graph in the past few years. It is clear that he is only in the setup of the ODI format as he is not considered by the selectors for other formats. The Indian management would be willing to bet on him for the 2023 World Cup considering his experience, and performance in the ICC events.
However, once that tournament is done, the selectors will want to move on from the southpaw to build players for the future. The next ODI World Cup will be held in 2027, and the management would want to build a team for the future. Hence, Dhawan is likely to be ignored for future assignments. On that note, he just might want to announce his retirement.
4) David Warner
Although David Warner’s performance hasn’t seen a dip, he might want to reduce his workload as he is not getting any younger. The left-handed batter has a crucial role to play for the Aussies in the upcoming World Cup in India. However, it is no secret that Warner is engaging himself more in the domestic T20 leagues of various countries.
David Warner will get 37-year-old and considering his age, he is unlikely to feature in the next edition of the ODI format World Cup. Hence, he would like to say goodbye to the ODI format to focus more on the shortest format of the game and participate in various T20 leagues.
5) Ravindra Jadeja
Another Indian to feature in this list is premium all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The man has the ability to contribute in all three departments of the game. However, he has struggled with injuries in recent times, which can affect his future. Considering the workload an all-rounder has, it is going to be tough for Jadeja to continue as he is in the setup of all three formats.
Once done with the 2023 World Cup, Jadeja might feel to step down from ODI cricket to prolong his career. Even the management would be eager to identify a few new talents to comfortably fill the big shoes of the veteran all-rounder.
