Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly reckons that it will be hard for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to stay fit, considering that they will be playing only in ODIs in the future. The veteran duo, who retired from T20Is after the World Cup win in 2024, announced their decisions to step away from Tests as well earlier in May. India last played an ODI in the ICC Champions Trophy and are not scheduled to play any 50-over games over the next two months.
Ganguly has no advice for Ro-Ko
Speaking to PTI, Ganguly claimed that just 15 games in a year, it won’t be easy for Rohit o Virat to maintain their fitness. He said that the duo knew the game very well and would make decisions accordingly. However, the former Indian skipper remarked that the game would eventually move on from Ro-Ko.
“It won’t be easy, fifteen games a year. I’ve got no advice. I think they know the game as much as I do, and they (Rohit & Virat) will make their own decisions. But all of us must understand that, like everyone else, the game will eventually move on from them, and they will move on from the game,” Ganguly said.
“If Virat was on England tour…”
Further, Ganguly opined that Virat would have scored plenty of runs if he was a part of the England series. Three Indian batters – Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal- scored hundreds in just two days of the ENG vs IND 1st Test in Leeds.
“Retirement should happen when people ask ‘Why?’ and not ‘Why not?’ As a player, you always know your place. He knew he didn’t have the best of 5 years in Tests but champions like him find ways to rediscover themselves. If Virat was on this England tour, I’m confident he would’ve scored heavily. But he felt it was time to go,” Ganguly said.
