'We’ll see where the next final is played' - Rohit Sharma hints at personnel changes ahead of next WTC cycle

India were hammered in the WTC final 2023 as Australia won the coveted title with a 209-run margin on Day 5. The Rohit Sharma-led side needed 280 runs on the final day with seven wickets in hand, with Virat Kohli (44) and Ajinkya Rahane (20) at the crease. However, all of India’s hopes were crushed by Scott Boland who dismissed Kohli for 49 in the first hour of the day getting him out caught at second slip.

Following his dismissal, India failed to recover and got bundled for 234, handing a massive victory to Australia. After the humiliating loss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that the team will be testing the new bunch of players in the upcoming WTC cycle depending on where the next final WTC final will be played.

“Obviously, there will be some talks around it [team combination] and we’ll see whatever is required and whatever is best, whatever the brand of cricket we want to play in the next two years. Who are the guys that can do that role for us, that’s the question we need to find answers for. And there are lot of guys, there are lot of players who are doing really well in our domestic cricket as well,” said Rohit in the post-match press conference.

“We’ll see where the next WTC final is being played as well, where we play; based on that we will decide what sort of players we want to get ready and what kind of cricket we want to play,” he added.

Notably, India lost their second consecutive WTC final after they lost to New Zealand by eight wickets in the final of the inaugural edition in 2021. The loss has made fans question the place of some of the senior players in the team and want to see some new faces getting an opportunity in the next cycle. The fixtures of the next WTC cycle are yet to be out, it will be interesting to see whether the next final will also be played in England.