New Delhi: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s abrupt Test retirements has surprised Anil Kumble, who believes they have it in them to play red-ball cricket for at least two more years and deserved a fitting farewell for their enormous contribution.
Kohli and Rohit announced their retirements within five days of each other, a month before the start of India’s five-match Test series in England.
Former skipper Kohli ended his Test career with 123 matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries while captain Rohit, who was dropped from India’s last Test against Australia in Sydney, made 4301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.6 with 12 hundreds.
“It is a huge surprise. Two outstanding, great players retiring on the back of few days. I didn’t see it coming. It has certainly caught me off guard. I thought he has a few more years left in him, especially at the Test level,” Kumble told on ‘ESPNCricinfo’ about Kohli.
“He’s playing only the ODI format now. No player leaves with any regret and I am sure he would have thought through this and ultimately it is the player’s call.”
During India’s last Test engagement in the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia, veteran off-spinner R Ashwin also retired from international cricket. Kumble said the manner of their exits isn’t worthy of the stature of these players.
“It is a very quiet exit. Every player deserves to leave on his terms, but I think on the field. We spoke about this when R Ashwin retired as well, right in the middle of the series he announced his retirement and came back (to India from Australia),” the former leg-spinner said.
“Right now, Rohit Sharma a few days ago and then Virat Kohli. I think all three of them deserved a proper send off on the field.
“I strongly believe people who matter need to address that. I know it is a social media age, yes the fans want to be there, there would have been plenty of fans and have a roaring send off.”
Without Kohli and Rohit India would find the away series in England a challenging environment, kumble felt.
“Rohit has retired, he had been captain for a while and Virat is probably the most accomplished captain for India and you would have wanted one of the guys to be around,” the former India skipper and coach said.
“England is going to be tough, it is a five-Test… I think it must have come as a surprise to the selectors as well. I’m sure the selectors would have looked to pursue him.”
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their Test retirements within five days of each other, a month before the start of India’s five-match series in England. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
