T20 World Cup: Will this be the farewell for India’s icons?

In 2011, the last time India won a cricket World Cup, everybody knew it would be batter Sachin Tendulkar’s final chance.

He was 39, it was his sixth attempt, and the team’s unofficial slogan was “Let’s do it for Sachin”.

After skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit the winning six, Virat Kohli, who was among those who carried Tendulkar on their shoulders, said memorably, “He has carried our batting on his shoulders for so long, it is time we carried him on our shoulders.”

And now Kohli, Tendulkar’s natural successor who turns 36 this year, is in the twilight of his own career.

The next T20 World Cup is in 2026, and the 50-over version in 2027. Kohli is fitter than Tendulkar was, but it is difficult to see him play white ball cricket at that level again. Captain Rohit Sharma, 37, might be playing his last World Cup too.

There has been no “Let’s do it for Kohli” or “Let’s do it for Rohit” cry in the Indian team, unless these have been done more discreetly than before. Perhaps there is a “Let’s do it for [Rahul] Dravid,” lingering in the air. For the Indian coach, who missed the 2011 World Cup, this is his final assignment with the national team.