Gautam Gambhirhead coach of the Indian cricket team, addressed the ongoing speculation regarding the possible retirement of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after India’s disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
Is it the end of the road for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma?
At the press conference after India’s six-wicket defeat in the last TestGambhir emphasized that the decision about their future lies with the players themselves, stating, “It’s up to them” determine what is best for Indian cricket.
Despite rumors surrounding their retirement, Gambhir expressed confidence in Kohli and Sharma’s commitment to the game. He noticed, “What I can say is they still have the hunger, they still have the passion. They are solid men and hopefully they can continue to take Indian cricket forward.” This opinion comes amid growing concern over their recent performances; Rohit managed just 31 runs through five innings in the series, while Kohli struggled to find form after his opening century in Perth.
Reports suggest that talks have already taken place among BCCI officials regarding Rohit’s future, with indications that he may not return to Test cricket after this tour. Meanwhile, Kohli’s future remains less certain, with the former India coach Ravi Shastri predicting that he could continue for another three to four years.
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“It would have been nice if he was there”: Gambhir
When asked if the Indian team could have won the Sydney Test, if Jasprit Bumrah was ready to bowl, Gambhir reiterated that success should not depend on any one player. He noted that India had a capable team ready to compete, even in Rohit’s absence from the last Test due to form issues.
“I don’t want to say that just because Bumrah wasn’t there we couldn’t get results,” Gambhir added. “It would have been nice if he was there, but we still had five bowlers, and a good team is one that doesn’t depend on one individual.
“We didn’t get a result, as simple as it could be. This is where we lost the series.”
The series was concluded with a 3–1 victory for Australia, marking a significant setback for India as they missed out on qualifying for the World Test Championship final.
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