BCCI Selector Ajit Agarkar Discusses Test Retirements of Kohli and Rohit Ahead of England Tour

BCCI Selector Comments on Test Retirements

Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has addressed the recent retirements of two prominent players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as India prepares for its Test series in England.

Agarkar revealed a 16-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series, appointing Shubman Gill as the new captain, taking over from Rohit Sharma. This announcement has generated significant excitement, marking a transformative phase in Indian Test cricket following the departures of key players like Kohli, Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli concluded their remarkable Test careers prior to the England tour, while Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy's Gabba Test.

Agarkar Acknowledges the Impact of Retirements

During a press conference following the squad announcement, Ajit Agarkar recognized the substantial impact of the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, referring to them as 'stalwarts' of Indian cricket. He noted that Kohli had informed him of his retirement decision back in April.

Agarkar stated, "When players of this caliber retire, it creates significant gaps. Ashwin also retired recently. These three are foundational figures in our cricket. It's always a challenge. I've had discussions with both of them."

He further mentioned, "Virat reached out in early April to express his desire to retire... Perhaps it was the right moment for him, and we must respect that. They have both earned that respect. His absence will be felt. He played 123 Test matches and scored 30 centuries."

Kohli and Rohit's Test Career Stats

Virat Kohli retires as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in Test cricket, accumulating 9,230 runs, which includes 30 centuries, at an average of 46 across 123 matches. In contrast, Rohit Sharma concluded his Test career with 4,301 runs, featuring 12 centuries and 18 fifties, at an average of 40.57 in 67 matches.

Agarkar Explains Captaincy Decision

Jasprit Bumrah was considered a candidate for the Test captaincy, but the selectors opted for Shubman Gill to succeed Rohit Sharma. Agarkar explained that the decision not to appoint Bumrah was influenced by workload management.

He elaborated, "Bumrah served as vice-captain in Australia, but since he wasn't available for all five Tests, we prioritized his fitness."

"We prefer him to perform at his best rather than adding extra pressure. We discussed this with him, and he understands. It was about managing his workload and ensuring he remains fit as a player," Agarkar concluded.