Vikram Rathour Reflects on Kohli, Sharma, and Ashwin Retirements: ‘I Wish They Played More’
In a seismic shift for Indian cricket, the Test arena bids farewell to three titans of the game—Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. As fans grapple with the end of an era, Vikram Rathour, former batting coach of the Indian men’s team and current batting coach for Rajasthan Royals, shared his poignant thoughts on the retirements, expressing a longing for more from these modern-day legends.
Rathour, speaking from New Delhi, emphasized the personal nature of such decisions. ‘Retirement is a very personal choice,’ he noted. ‘I would have loved to see all three continue playing. They were phenomenal cricketers with so much still to offer. But if they’ve made this call, we must respect it.’ His words resonate deeply as Indian cricket stands at a crossroads, transitioning into a new World Test Championship cycle without its most seasoned warriors.
The departure of Kohli, who amassed 8,848 Test runs at an average of 49.15 with 29 centuries, Sharma with his elegant 4,137 runs and leadership in winning key series, and Ashwin, the spin wizard with 516 wickets in 100 Tests, leaves a void that will be hard to fill. Together, they have been the backbone of India’s dominance in the longest format over the past decade, contributing to historic victories like the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia.
Echoing Rathour’s sentiments, Ashwin himself reflected on the inevitability of retirement during a recent episode on his YouTube channel. ‘Even someone like Sachin Tendulkar had to call it a day,’ he remarked, placing the current trio’s exits in perspective. He lauded Kohli’s unmatched aggression and energy on the field and Sharma’s calm, composed approach as a leader. Ashwin also hinted at what could have been for Sharma, noting, ‘What Kohli achieved, Rohit could have too—if not for that early ankle injury that delayed his Test debut.’ This reference to Sharma’s injury-marred start adds a layer of ‘what-if’ to an already emotional narrative.
As India prepares for life after these icons, the spotlight turns to the team’s bench strength. Young talents like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and spinners like Axar Patel are expected to step up, but replacing the experience and aura of the retiring trio will be a monumental task. The upcoming Test series against New Zealand and Australia will be a litmus test for this transitioning side under potentially new leadership.
Meanwhile, amidst the nostalgia, a brighter note emerges from the IPL, where a new star is born. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a prodigy at just 14 years old, stole the show for Rajasthan Royals with a breathtaking 57 runs off 39 balls, guiding his team to a commanding six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings. Despite valiant efforts from CSK’s young guns like Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, the loss has pushed MS Dhoni’s side to the brink of finishing at the bottom of the IPL table for the first time in franchise history—a bitter pill for their loyal fanbase.
As Indian cricket navigates these contrasting narratives of poignant goodbyes and promising hellos, Rathour’s words linger: a wish to see more of Kohli’s fiery cover drives, Sharma’s effortless pulls, and Ashwin’s guileful spin. While the game moves forward, the legacy of these modern greats will forever be etched in the annals of Test cricket, inspiring generations to come.