Ajit Agkar finally told what BCCI did when Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma quit Test cricket

Ajit Agkar, president of the selectors, admitted on Saturday that it is difficult to fill the zero released by the retirement of premiere cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but it was expected that the other players would take steps during England’s upcoming tour. Rohit was the first to declare his retirement from Test cricket on 7 May, while his long -time team partner Kohli followed the suit on 12 May. “When people retired, they are cricket stallwarts … It is always difficult, (their) shoes are very big to fill.

The young left -handed Sai Sudhan and veteran Karun Nair have been brought to change two superstars.

Agarkar revealed that Kohli had reached him last month, possibly after the Champions Trophy, expressed his desire to quit cricket.

“Virat arrived in early April (for the BCCI/Selection Committee), and he felt that he had given everything he could do. If he felt that he could not depend on the standards that he has determined, you have received this honor. There is no need to say, Rohit is leading the team.”

“They have left a legacy behind. Obviously, I have interacted with both of them in the last few months. We have seen him (Kohli) 200 percent every ball that he plays. Even when he is not batting or he is on the field.

“He probably felt that he had given everything that he had and if you could not keep the standards that he set himself up in the years and how good it is and perhaps it was time for him.”

In the traditional format after a series of competing outings in either last year either Kohli and Rohit have intensive speculation around the future.

The latest example in that dabbling attempt was a tour of Australia for 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kohli started with a blast, made a hundred in Perth, but quickly went away from five Tests at an average of 190 to end the tour for 190 runs.

Rohit, who joined the side after the first test, was equally ineffective, in addition to standing below the fifth in Sydney and standing below the finals, scoring just 31 runs on average on average five tests of 6.2.

“It has come to him (and) you have received that honor. He has earned that honor. As all the great players are, one thing. They are true for themselves. You respect it.

“It’s going to be a difficult (position) to fill. This is an opportunity for someone else. But he showed what should be done to succeed at this level.

“This is a new cycle. It is an opportunity for us to make something too. But there is no doubt. That is why you have received them to show the respect they want rather than guessing a lot of things. It is sometimes a personal call with the players. You respect it.”

So, in view of the magnitude of the series, was an attempt to persuade Kohli and Rohit to stay back to the tour of England? Agarkar was quite blunt in his assessment of the situation, and said that the upcoming World Test Championships (2025–27) were predicted to create a new side.

“When someone takes a call (to retire), it is not on me. Retirement is a personal call. It is a new WTC (World Test Championship) cycle, and you are looking at all scenarios to help you form a team,” he said that Head Coach Gautam Gambir’s feelings were retired.

There was speculation that Kohli wanted to travel to England for a farewell series, but Aagarkar did not pay attention to it, just saying that the decision to move away from Test cricket was completely made by Star Batter.

“When someone makes a decision, it is not on us. Our job is to pick up someone. But yes. When someone is finished … two big cricketers, it will be a hole to fill. Of course, (Mohammed) Shami is also there, as he did a lot for Indian cricket,” he said.

“As I said, his performance over the years has shown the amount of sports he has won for India. It is now someone else’s chance. But there is no doubt that we will remember him.

“All three of them, and Shami here. He is again, in Test cricket, he is incredible. Four people are not part of the squad in this way, it’s going to make it a little harder but it is an opportunity for other people.”

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