Sunil Gavaskar shared his thoughts on the factors that may have influenced Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s decisions to retire from Test cricket.
Kohli’s Test Retirement: A Great Career, A Few Milestones Missed
Virat Kohli called time on his Test career after a 13-year journey filled with iconic innings and game-changing contributions. Despite an illustrious career, he leaves behind one major milestone—falling just 670 runs short of the coveted 10,000-run mark in Test cricket.
Had he achieved it, Kohli would have become only the fourth Indian batter to reach that elite club, following in the footsteps of Sunil Gavaskar, who was the first to do so. Speaking on Kohli’s retirement, Gavaskar shared insights into what might have driven the former captain to make his decision.
“Questions were asked of a lot of players after the Australia tour, not just 1-2 players but everyone involved, in bowling or batting,” Gavaskar told Sports Tak. “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 further elaborated on the internal struggle players often face:
“And sometimes you ask yourself 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 added.
Kohli may have stepped back from Tests, but his legacy remains firmly etched in Indian cricket history.
‘Wanted them to keep playing’: Gavaskar on Ro-Ko retirements
Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket comes swiftly after Rohit Sharma’s decision to step down, marking the conclusion of a golden era in Indian red-ball cricket led by this prolific pair. With Rohit now 38 and Kohli turning 37 later this year, the demands of extended overseas tours may have influenced their decisions.
“All of us in Indian cricket wanted them to keep playing,” said Sunil Gavaskar, reflecting the sentiments of millions of fans. “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.”
The long and grueling schedule of India’s upcoming England tour, which begins on June 20, could have been a major factor in their choice. With both veterans stepping aside, the BCCI selection panel is now faced with the task of appointing a new captain and shaping the next phase of Indian Test cricket. The squad announcement is expected in the coming two weeks.
