NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar succinctly summed up a key aspect of cricketing careers on X, writing, “When to retire is up to the player, but how long to play is up to the selectors.”
His words resonate strongly in the wake of India’s 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, reigniting debates about the futures of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the longest format of the game.
The duo’s performances have drawn scrutiny, with their recent struggles extending beyond the latest series.
Kohli managed just 190 runs in five matches, of which 136 came from two innings. The remaining seven knocks added a meager 54 runs.
This stark inconsistency has been symptomatic of his overall Test decline since 2020, during which he has averaged just 30.72 across 39 matches.
Rohit Sharma, too, has faced criticism after a disappointing series where he averaged just 10.33 across three matches.
While his numbers since 2021 (2,160 runs at 34.28) slightly edge out Kohli’s, the steep drop in his 2024 form—619 runs at 24.76—has intensified calls for him to step aside.
Rohit’s clarification that he has no plans to retire has not quelled debates about his role in the side and whether it’s time for a generational transition.
As players like R Ashwin have chosen a graceful exit during the series, fans now wonder if Rohit and Kohli will follow suit or rediscover the form that once defined their greatness.
The decision, as Manjrekar rightly says, now lies in the selectors’ hands.
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