CHANDIGARH: Senior Indian cricket superstars, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, announced their retirement from Test cricket within the span of a week. When Kohli informed the BCCI about his decision to retire from Tests, the board reportedly urged him to delay the announcement, citing the challenges of an England tour without senior players. However, Kohli went ahead and officially announced his retirement on May 12.
Several former Indian players have expressed their views on the duo's retirement decisions. Now, former cricketer and Yuvraj Singh's father, Yograj Singh, has responded to the matter.
According to Yograj Singh, senior players should not retire until they feel physically incapable of performing on the field. He said that Rohit and Kohli still have a lot of cricket left in them, and their retirement will be a major setback for the Indian team, especially during the upcoming England tour. In a media interview, Yograj pointed out that he had advised his son Yuvraj that key players should not retire until they are physically unable to continue playing.
He further remarked, "The damage caused by the retirement or exclusion of several major players in 2011 still haunts the Indian team. A team made up solely of young players is bound to collapse. In my opinion, Rohit and Virender Sehwag retired far too early. Great players should continue playing until they’re 50. I’m deeply saddened by their retirement. Right now, there’s no one in the Indian team to truly mentor and encourage the younger generation."