Every time Team India gets ready to participate in a new series, or are due to play an ICC event, there are always questions raised over Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma‘s future. After the T20 World Cup triumph last year, the duo had already called it a day from the shortest format, but it is not yet time, for Ro-Ko to hang their boots in ODIs and Tests.
Former West Indies and IPL legend, who spent a considerable time with these players, Chris Gayle opened up on this entire question, on the future of the “aging Indian player”. And the Jamaican minced no words in saying that there is still a lot left in the tank for them. In fact, he went to the extent of saying, there was no need for them to retire from T20Is, and now IPL is the only place, one can see them playing in the shortest format.
Surprised by Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli’s T20I retirement
In an exclusive interview with InsideSport, he first spoke about Virat Kohli. “Virat is a phenomenal player. He is a one of a kind player. His international stats speaks for itself. Outstanding. He’s in his 80th century. From a T20 point-of-view, he his great. His stats speak for himself. Even he doesn’t play outside of India, he plays only for IPL. He is a fit guy. He looks after himself. He is about 35 now. He still has lot in tank, still has plenty to offer to the game. So we want to see Virat play as long as he can in T20s.”
At the time Virat retired from T20Is, he had played 125 matches, scored 4188 runs for India at an average of 48.69, with one ton and 38 fifties. In all that, his strike-rate was a decent 137. “I was surprised he retired from T20Is, we want to see many more of Virat. But that’s his call. He is great, it was nice to share dressing room.”
Good for a Few More Years
Addressing the more serios issue of Rohit Sharma and Virat’s retirement from ODIs and Tests, Gayle was clear in his head that the two should not retire, and still have a lot to offer to the Indian team. It is worth noting that many questions were raised on the two, during their poor outing in Australia, and in fact, Rohit had dropped himself from the Sydney Test. In short, for him, they should be on the flight to England as well.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stats in Test from 2024
| Matches | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 11 | 440 | 23.15 | 1 | 1 |
| Rohit Sharma | 14 | 619 | 24.76 | 2 | 2 |
Rohit-Kokohli Deserve to Take Retirement Calls on Own
“I don’t think so, I think both still got lot to offer, both are good players. When a series don’t go well, the age as well, there’s always going to be speculations. Those guys have been dominant for team India. I can share the same sentiment. When you are so dominant for your country and as soon something don’t go right at a particular age, people will start to speculate.
“It will take a toll on you as a player. I have experienced that. You don’t want to push them out at all. I think they have more left in Test, especially Virat. Those guys will know when its time and make that call. But should give them the chance to make the call for themselves. You have to give these guys time and let them make a call. Those guys deserve it to make their call. It’s going great for them,” he concluded.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stats in ODI from 2024
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 10 | 333 | 37 | 84.30 | 2 | 1 |
| Rohit Sharma | 11 | 459 | 41.72 | 120.78 | 3 | 1 |
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