Indian cricket was left in a state of shock as two of its biggest icons, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, announced their Test retirements in quick succession. Ravichandran Ashwin, the seasoned spinner who himself bid farewell to Test cricket last December, expressed his astonishment at the timing of these announcements, especially with the England tour just around the corner. Ashwin shared his candid thoughts on his popular YouTube show ‘Ash ki Baat’, sparking conversations across the cricketing world.
“I had no clue both Rohit and Virat would retire together,” Ashwin revealed. “This is going to be a challenging phase for Indian cricket, and I believe this marks the true beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era.”
Rohit Sharma dropped the bombshell of his retirement on May 7 via a heartfelt social media post, while Virat Kohli followed suit on May 12 with an emotional Instagram announcement. The duo’s sudden exit has left a massive void in the Indian team, both in terms of leadership and experience, just as the selection committee prepares to finalize the squad for the England tour.
Ashwin didn’t mince words about the impact of their departures: “Their retirements will undoubtedly create a leadership vacuum. Experience is priceless, especially on tough tours like England. Virat’s relentless energy and Rohit’s calm composure will be sorely missed,” he remarked.
With Shubman Gill’s name emerging as a potential captaincy candidate, Ashwin offered a fresh perspective: “The team touring England will be a completely transformed unit, where Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be the senior-most player. He’s definitely a captaincy contender, and I think he deserves it. However, the selectors will have to consider his physical workload before making a decision.”
“Rohit Could Have Extended His Career Till the England Series” – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin also weighed in on whether Rohit and Kohli could have delayed their retirements. “I believe Virat still had a couple of years of Test cricket left in him,” Ashwin shared. “As for Rohit, I felt he could have at least continued till the England Test series, especially given the leadership vacuum in the team.”
He elaborated further: “Test cricket has been India’s strongest suit over the last decade or so. Rohit could have stayed on for the England series to provide leadership, and if he performed well, he might have even extended his career.”
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