Indian cricket veteran Ajit Agarkar recently addressed the sudden retirement of two of India’s iconic cricketers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, from Test cricket.
Earlier this year, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, India faced a tough challenge in Australia, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 and missing out on qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Following that, India played the Test series against England post-IPL, which ended in a 2-2 draw under the leadership of young captain Shubman Gill.
Before the England series began, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from Test cricket. Notably, Rohit had earlier committed to playing in England but decided to step away mid-way.
During the NDTV World Summit 2025’s session titled “Uncertain Choices, Certain Changes,” when asked if he faced any backlash for their retirement, Agarkar stated, “I don’t get personal emails; I only read official communications from the BCCI. Both Rohit and Virat are legends of Indian cricket. The decision to retire was theirs alone, as they chose not to continue in this new WTC cycle.”
Agarkar further explained that the duo might have realized that continuing as Test players over the next two years in this demanding championship might not have been feasible. He acknowledged the England series as crucial for gaining experience, saying, “That series highlighted our need for seasoned players. Winning under a young captain was a tough task, but we managed it.”
Concluding his remarks, Agarkar expressed respect for their decisions: “When players have played as much as they have, and choose to step away from a format, it’s important to honor their choice.”
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