Gautam Gambhir Discusses Challenges Ahead for Indian Cricket After Kohli and Rohit's Test Retirement

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, reflects on the challenges posed by the recent retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket. While acknowledging the difficulties in filling the leadership void, he sees this as a chance for new players to step up. Gambhir draws parallels with past successes, emphasizing that opportunities can arise from adversity. He also discusses the future of Kohli and Rohit in One Day Internationals and the upcoming T20 World Cup, highlighting the importance of performance over age in cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2025, 02:01 IST

Navigating Change in Indian Cricket

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has acknowledged the significant hurdles posed by the departures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket. However, he believes this transition also presents an opportunity for emerging players to rise and take on new responsibilities.

Both Kohli and Rohit announced their retirement from Test cricket within a week of each other earlier this month, just ahead of the highly anticipated five-match series in England. The team selection for this series is set to be revealed on Saturday in Mumbai.

Gambhir emphasized that retirement is a personal choice, stating, 'When you start and decide to end your career, it’s an individual decision. No one, including coaches or selectors, has the authority to dictate when someone should retire.'

The absence of these two stalwarts means India will not only need to find a new Test captain but will also face a gap in leadership and experience that will be challenging to fill, according to Gambhir.

'We will miss two highly experienced players, and this situation opens the door for others to step up and prove themselves,' he remarked.

He drew a comparison to India's Champions Trophy victory, which occurred despite the absence of key bowler Jasprit Bumrah, suggesting that such gaps can lead to unexpected opportunities for other players.

'It will be tough, but I believe there will be players eager to seize this chance, just like during the Champions Trophy when Bumrah was unavailable,' he noted.

While Kohli and Rohit have stepped back from Test and T20 formats, they remain available for One Day Internationals.

When asked about their potential inclusion in the 2027 ODI World Cup, Gambhir replied, 'That’s still quite far off. We have the T20 World Cup coming up in February-March, which is a major event in India.'

'Our immediate focus will be on the T20 World Cup after the England series. The 2027 World Cup is two-and-a-half years away, and I believe that if players continue to perform, age becomes irrelevant,' he concluded.