Gautam Gambhir, India head coach, opened up about decision of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to retire from Test cricket and stated that it is a player’s individual call to retire and that no one has the right to influence the decision.
The Test team will be without its most experienced batsmen for the forthcoming England tour, where India will play a five-match Test series beginning on June 20, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from Test cricket earlier this month.
“I think, when you start the game and when you want to finish, it’s a very individual decision. No one has the right. Be it the coach, the selector, be it anyone in this country has any right to tell someone when to retire and when not to retire. So it comes from within," Gautam Gambhir told CNN-News18.
Gambhir also stated that the void left by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be filled by youngsters.
“And yes, we’ve got to be without two senior players, two really experienced players. And sometimes I believe that it’s the opportunity for some other people to put their hand up and say, Okay, I’m ready for it. So yes, it will be tough, but then there’ll be people putting their hand up for sure because this question was asked to me before. Champions Trophy as well. When Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t there and I said exactly the same thing, someone missing out might give another person an opportunity to do something special for the country, hopefully, there’ll be other guys waiting for that opportunity," he said.
With 9,230 runs in 123 games, an outstanding average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds and 31 half-centuries, Kohli concluded his Test career. At an average of 40.57, Rohit finished his red-ball career with 4,301 runs in 67 games, including 12 hundreds and 18 half-centuries.
Reports have stated that India’s squad for the five-match Test tour of England is likely to be announced on May 24. This will also reveal who will be the new Test captain of the Indian team.
