Ravichandran Ashwin Discusses the Future of Test Cricket Post-Kohli

The Legacy of Test Cricket After Kohli

Following Virat Kohli's retirement, many are questioning the future relevance of Test cricket. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his perspective on this matter. He emphasized that while Kohli is a significant figure in cricket, the sport itself transcends any individual player. In a recent interview with RevSports, Ashwin addressed the common inquiry about whether the younger generation can uphold Kohli's legacy in the sport. He cleverly remarked,

"I do not think anybody who has played the game, or will play the game, is higher than the game itself. Nobody that walks the park does good for the game – the game does good or bad by them. I love Virat, but he has come, played the game, left the game, left it at a great place. And now, it is for someone else to take it forward."

Kohli's tenure as captain saw him leading the Indian Test team during a time when T20 formats and franchise leagues were gaining popularity. Despite this, he remained a staunch advocate for Test cricket, consistently encouraging young players to measure their success by their performances in this format.

Ashwin Supports Young Talent for Future Leadership

With Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping back, Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant serving as his vice-captain. Ashwin expressed confidence in this young squad's ability to lead the team with honor. He stated,

"Now looking forward to the attitude and desire of talents like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel to take it ahead. It’s time to see if they can replicate the intense energy that players like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar showed on the field all these years. Having said that, it is everyone’s responsibility in the team to show that energy and desire."

India is set to embark on a five-match Test series against England, with the first match commencing on June 20 at Headingley. This series will mark the beginning of the Shubman Gill-Gautam Gambhir era.