Kohli and Rohit’s Test Retirement: Is a 5-Match Series the Reason?
Kohli and Rohit Step Down From Test Cricket
The Indian cricket world was stunned this week by the simultaneous retirements of two of its biggest stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, from Test cricket. The news came just days after Rohit announced his decision last week, leaving a major void in India’s batting lineup for the upcoming series against England.
Both Kohli and Sharma have confirmed they will continue playing in One Day Internationals (ODIs) after announcing their retirements from both Test and T20 Internationals last year.
Gavaskar Offers Insight
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar shed some light on the reasons behind the duo’s decision, suggesting that the grueling five-match Test series against England might have played a role.
“All of us in Indian cricket wanted them to keep playing. If you have to make a decision, they are the only ones who can do it. Maybe they decided that if this were a 3-match series, it would have been a different story. But maybe this being 5 Test matches across 6 weeks, there’s no break, maybe that’s why they did it,” Gavaskar told Sports Today.
Gavaskar also acknowledged the scrutiny faced by Indian players after their disappointing tour of Australia, where both Kohli and Rohit struggled to perform.
“Questions were asked of a lot of players after the Australia tour, not just 1-2 players but everyone involved, in bowling or batting. After winning the first Test, everyone thought India will be successful in Australia for a third consecutive time. This didn’t happen, so of course questions were asked,” he added.
He further explained that players often find themselves questioning their abilities after such setbacks, leading to introspection and, in some cases, decisions to retire.
“And sometimes you ask yourselves those questions, do I still have that ability, am I finding satisfaction in this. When you start asking these questions, you start telling yourself that if I remove myself, it will be better. To quash those thoughts is difficult,” Gavaskar explained.
The retirements of Kohli and Sharma mark the end of an era for Indian cricket, leaving a significant gap to be filled by the next generation of players.
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