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Kapil Dev reckons that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement should be decided by the players themselves. The World-Cup winner backs the senior duo to call time on their careers at the right moment.
Rohit Sharma (R) and Virat Kohli (L) will be keen on returning to form. (Image: AFP)
The spotlight has been on India’s senior duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and their poor returns with the bat in recent times. Their lack of form with the bat has resulted in India crashing out of the World Test Championship, with questions being asked on whether the time has come for the two to step aside.
With the Champions Trophy coming up, followed by the tour to England, the fate of India’s star pair remains a mystery. The Indian World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, however, has backed the two to have the self-awareness to decide for themselves regarding retirement from international cricket.
“They are very big players. Let’s hope when they think it’s the right time to play, when they think it’s not, they will call it off,” said Kapil, in response to a question as quoted by PTI.
Both players had decided to end their international careers in the shortest format after helping India claim the second T20 World Cup title.
Reports had even suggested that the skipper had contemplated retiring from Tests after the Boxing Day Test, but his well-wishers had changed his mind to just being dropped from the fifth Test at Sydney.
Kohli on the other hand, was a part of all five Test matches. He started off with a brilliant hundred in Perth, seemingly having overcome his woes outside the off-stump. But that was shortlived as he struggled for the remainder of the tour, scoring just 90 runs across the other four Tests.
Both men will be keen on bringing in their best form into the Champions Trophy, where it could be the last hurrah for several senior starts within the national setup, not just Rohit and Kohli.
When Rohit was benched for the fifth Test, Bumrah resumed his role as the stand-in skipper, hoping to replicate his feat in Perth. Despite being unable to do so, Kapil Dev insisted that the pace spearhead should be given some time to lead the side should he be given the role in the long run.
“If he has been given the opportunity (to lead the side), then give him some time also,” Kapil concluded with his thoughts on Bumrah’s future as India’s long-term captain.
(with PTI Inputs)
