NEW DELHI: In a deeply emotional and candid reflection, former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently spoke about the retirements of two modern giants of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, from Test cricket. Addressing his followers on his popular YouTube channel, Ashwin didn’t hold back on the bittersweet reality of a cricketer’s journey. ‘No matter how monumental a player is, even someone like Sachin Tendulkar had to call it a day. That’s the inevitable cycle of this beautiful game,’ he remarked, encapsulating the transient nature of sporting greatness.
Ashwin’s words carried a tone of admiration and wistfulness as he compared the illustrious careers of Kohli and Sharma. ‘Jitna Virat Kohli ka hua, utna Rohit Sharma ka bhi ho sakta tha (What Virat achieved, Rohit could have done too),’ he noted, pointing out how a cruel twist of fate—an untimely ankle injury—delayed Rohit’s Test debut, costing him the chance to reach the coveted milestone of 100 Test matches. Despite this, Ashwin celebrated their distinct contributions: Kohli’s fiery energy and aggression that redefined Indian batting, and Sharma’s serene calmness and tactical acumen as a leader and batsman.
Delving deeper into their final chapters, Ashwin highlighted Kohli’s struggles with form during his last series against New Zealand and Australia. Kohli’s Test career ended on a poignant note with a gritty century in Perth—his 30th in the format—amassing 8,848 runs at an average of 49.15 across 113 Tests. However, inconsistent scores in subsequent matches signaled the end. Similarly, Rohit, once a dominant force at home with a staggering average above 50 in India, faltered in away conditions. His disappointing run in Bangladesh and New Zealand raised inevitable questions, culminating in his retirement after 59 Tests and 4,137 runs at an average of 45.24.
Ashwin also turned the lens on himself, reflecting on his own Test journey of 106 matches and a remarkable haul of 516 wickets, making him one of India’s greatest spinners. Despite a memorable all-round performance in Australia—scoring a century and picking up 11 wickets—his form dipped, and after being sidelined in key games during the New Zealand series, he chose to retire mid-series in Australia. ‘Every end is a new beginning,’ he mused, a sentiment that now echoes across Indian cricket.
As the curtains fall on the Test careers of these three pillars—Kohli, Sharma, and Ashwin—Indian cricket stands at a crossroads. With the next World Test Championship cycle on the horizon, the absence of these stalwarts will be palpable. The spotlight now shifts to the emerging talents like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and spinners like Axar Patel, who must shoulder the responsibility of carrying forward a legacy built over decades. Can this new generation rise to the occasion? Only time will tell, but for now, fans and critics alike join Ashwin in saluting two of India’s finest Test cricketers who defined an era.