January 5, 2025: India head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed questions regarding the future of two of Indian cricket’s biggest stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, following India’s 3-1 series defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The loss ended a decade-long period of dominance in the prestigious series, and questions arose about the performances of the team’s senior players, especially Kohli and Rohit.
Both players have been vital to India’s success over the years, but in this series, their form came under scrutiny. With both players struggling, particularly against Australia’s renowned pace attack, some sections of the fanbase began questioning whether Rohit and Virat should consider retiring from Test cricket.
The situation around Rohit’s retirement gained momentum when Jasprit Bumrah confirmed at the toss that Rohit had opted out of the match. It sparked a wave of speculation, with many wondering if it was the beginning of the end for the opening batsman in the longest format.
During the Sydney Test, Rohit clarified that he was not retiring from Test cricket and had simply chosen to stand down for the match. Speaking to Star Sports, Rohit stated, “I have stood down from this Test, but I am not going anywhere. This is not a retirement or moving away from the format. A guy with a mic, pen or laptop, what they write or say, it doesn’t matter. They cannot decide for us. I took the call to stand down after coming to Sydney. Yes, runs are not coming, but there is no guarantee that you won’t be able to score two months down the line or six months down the line. I am mature enough to know what I am doing.”
Despite his statement, Rohit‘s numbers in the series were far from impressive. He could only manage 31 runs across his two innings, and his struggles against the Australian attack raised doubts about his future in Test cricket.
Virat Kohli, too, faced his own set of challenges. His last significant contribution came in the Perth Test, where he scored an unbeaten century. However, the rest of the series proved to be difficult for him, and he finished with only 190 runs in the five-Test series, averaging just 23.75 with a strike rate of 47.98. His inability to convert starts into big scores, particularly in a series of such high stakes, had fans and critics alike questioning his place in the longer format.
In response to the increasing criticism, Gautam Gambhir remained diplomatic. He refrained from speculating about their retirement and emphasized that both players still possessed the passion and hunger for the game. He said, “I can’t talk about the future of any player. It’s up to them as well. They still have the hunger, they still have the passion, they are tough people, and hopefully, they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. Whatever they plan, they will plan in the best interest of the team. I have to be fair and equal to everyone in the dressing room.”
Despite the defeat, Gambhir’s comments were hopeful and supportive, reinforcing the idea that decisions regarding retirement or continuing in the format should come from the players themselves, with the team’s interest in mind.
With India’s defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy marking the end of their 10-year reign, the team’s aspirations of qualifying for a third consecutive World Test Championship final were also dashed. Australia will now defend their title in the final against South Africa in June 2023 at Lord’s.
Looking ahead, India’s next Test assignment is a tour of England in June 2023, and both Rohit and Virat will have the opportunity to make a comeback and show their worth. For now, however, their future in Test cricket remains a topic of significant debate, with many hoping they can once again rise to the occasion and silence their critics.