Gambhir defends Kohli, Rohit’s timing of Test retirement: 'No one has the right'

Gautam Gambhir with Rohit Sharma at a practice session (Pic: AFP)

India head coach Gautam Gambhir believes the recent Test retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma present a valuable opportunity for the next generation of cricketers to emerge and take on greater responsibility. This marked Gambhir's first public reaction since the veteran duo stepped away from the longest format of the game earlier this month.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Gambhir emphasised the deeply personal nature of retirement decisions, asserting that no one other than the individual player should dictate the timing of such calls.

"I think, when you start the game and when you want to finish, it's a very individual decision. No one has the right. Be it the coach, the selector, be it anyone in this country has any right to tell someone when to retire and when not to retire. So it comes from within," Gambhir said.

Kohli and Rohit, two of the most influential figures in Indian cricket over the past decade, announced their retirements from Test cricket within a week of each other. The decisions came just ahead of India's much-anticipated five-match Test series in England, with the squad for the tour set to be revealed on Saturday in Mumbai.

As the Indian team gears up for a challenging English summer, the spotlight now shifts to a pool of promising and returning players, all vying to fill the considerable void left by the exit of two of the format's modern greats.

"And yes, we've got to be without two senior players to really experience players. And sometimes I believe that it's the opportunity for some other people to put their hand up and say, 'Okay, I am ready for it'," Gambhir remarked. He further drew a comparison to a previous instance of India thriving despite the absence of a key figure, referring to India's Champions Trophy win without premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

"When Jasprit Bumrah wasn't there and I said exactly the same thing, someone missing out might give another person an opportunity to do something special for the country, hopefully, there'll be other guys waiting for that opportunity," he added.

Though Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from Test and T20 internationals, both have confirmed their continued availability for India in the ODI format.