Before the five-match Test series against England, India all-rounder Shardul Thakur shared his thoughts on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket. Rohit announced his retirement on May 7 after 67 Tests over 11 years, just before the England tour which kicks off India’s ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle starting June 20. Then, on May 12, Kohli surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from Tests a month prior to the series against England.
In an interview with Boria Majumdar on Revsportz, Shardul spoke about their retirements, saying, “Yes, it’s definitely a big change since they won’t be playing Test cricket anymore. They’re very senior and experienced players. But it’s a personal choice when they realize they can’t contribute like before. Having seasoned players around provides a lot of support, and a mix of senior and junior players usually leads to good results.”
He added that the current young team brings a lot of energy and it will be a tough but exciting tour for everyone. With Rohit and Kohli gone, the most experienced player left is Ravindra Jadeja. Shardul believes it’ll be an interesting tour with new responsibilities and leadership.
Rohit’s Test career ended on May 7 after playing 67 Tests, leaving a big gap in leadership ahead of the England tour. He made his debut against the West Indies in November 2013 and scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, hitting 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. Kohli’s retirement marked the end of his impressive 14-year career spanning 123 Tests, where he scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. His time in Test cricket helped shape India into a strong team with a focus on fitness and aggression.
