Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has addressed the ongoing speculation regarding the potential retirement of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following India’s disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Is it the end of road for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma?

In a press conference after India’s six-wicket loss in the final Test, Gambhir emphasized that the decision about their futures lies with the players themselves, stating, “It’s up to them” to determine what is best for Indian cricket.

Despite the rumours surrounding their retirements, Gambhir expressed confidence in Kohli and Sharma’s commitment to the game. He remarked, “What I can say is that they still have the hunger, they still have the passion. They’re tough people, and hopefully they can continue to take Indian cricket forward.” This sentiment comes amidst growing concerns about their recent performances; Rohit managed only 31 runs across five innings in the series, while Kohli struggled to find form after an initial century in Perth.

Reports indicate that discussions have already taken place among BCCI officials regarding Rohit’s future, with indications that he may not return to Test cricket beyond this tour. Meanwhile, Kohli’s future remains less certain, with former India coach Ravi Shastri predicting he could continue for another three to four years.

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“It would have been nice if he would have been there”: Gambhir

When asked if the Indian team could have won the Sydney Test, if Jasprit Bumrah had been fit to bowl, Gambhir reiterated that they should not be dependent on any single player for success. He noted that even in Rohit’s absence from the final Test due to form issues, India had a capable squad ready to compete.

“I don’t want to say that just because Bumrah wasn’t there we couldn’t get the results,” Gambhir added. “It would have been nice if he would have been there, but we still had five bowlers, and a good team is one which is not dependent on one individual.

“We didn’t get the result, as simple as it can get. We lost the series here.”

The series concluded with Australia winning 3-1, marking a significant setback for India as they missed out on qualifying for the World Test Championship final.

Also READ: AUS vs IND – Jasprit Bumrah breaks silence on his injury and India’s performance in BGT 2024-25

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