Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, declared his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, 2025. On May 12, Virat Kohli repeated this action. India lost a wealth of memories and the experience of almost 200 Test matches in five days. When players of the caliber of Kohli and Rohit choose to bid farewell, it is always a heartbreaking blow. Couldn't they have continued a bit longer? At least until the next WTC cycle? Obvious questions arise from the letdowns.

Then comes the agony of understanding that they will never again be able to grace the whites. Rohit and Kohli did not receive farewell matches, similar to Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Zaheer, and a number of other Indian cricket legends. A social media message hardly qualifies as a suitable farewell. However, after the feelings have subsided, one starts to think logically.

How much cricket did Rohit and Kohli have left in them? Rohit was 38, and Kohli was 36. Despite Kohli's undisputed fitness levels, one must consider the future in a country like India, which has an abundance of batting ability. Paras Mhambrey, a former bowling coach for India, stated that Kohli and Rohit were aware that they did not have five more years of Test cricket left in them.

"Virat didn't have five more years of Test cricket in him. They must have understood that it was time for them to fight their own fights, Mhambrey told the Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview.

Mhambrey stated that Kohli and Rohit are cricketers who put their all into the game, and that once they understood they couldn't give more than 100 percent, they chose to call it a day.

"They consistently express how valuable their contributions might be." And occasionally, it's the motivational factor. Perhaps they weren't as eager to play that style. They won't be able to perform at their best in that format. And that's how they go about it. "Both of them have such a selfless attitude," stated Mhambrey, who was a member of the coaching staff for India's T20 World Cup-winning squad.

Kohli has participated in 113 Test matches since his debut in 2011 against the West Indies, amassing more than 8,900 runs at a remarkable average of 49.29 (as of June 2025). He has scored 29 Test centuries and 30 half-centuries, including a record seven double hundreds as an Indian captain.

Mhambrey explains why Rohit and Kohli retired from Test cricket.

The highest Test score of Kohli is 254 not out, which he made in 2019 against South Africa. He had one of the most productive stretches in modern Test cricket between 2016 and 2018, with an average over 75 during that time. He also holds the record for the most Test victories as an Indian captain (40). He was the first Indian to score four double centuries in a row.

However, it would be the last few years that would be difficult for Kohli. His average fell significantly, and the hundreds began to vanish. He showed his weaknesses outside the off stump.

In contrast, Rohit started Test cricket in a completely different way. He scored two centuries in his inaugural series against the West Indies, but it wasn't until Kohli and Ravi Shastri requested him to open the batting in 2019 that he was able to establish himself as a middle-order batsman in the XI.

Although Rohit, like in white-ball cricket, enjoyed great success at the top of the order, the Indian captain had a particularly challenging year. There were simply no runs scored against Australia and New Zealand. He chose to remove himself from the playing XI for the Sydney Test in Australia because of his terrible form.

Rohit declared in a Star Sports interview that he did not choose to retire. Rohit was told by the selectors that they are looking at a captain as the choice for the England tour approached, although he still has plenty left in the tank.

"Sometimes you're not in the right mindset to deal with the grind." I would rather be honest and state that I am good in one format if I am not there 100%. Mhambrey stated, "Let me concentrate on the other format, which I can be more helpful for the team," pointing out that Rohit and Kohli are still available for ODIs.

Rohit, Kohli, and Ashwin will be missed by India.

India will miss the contributions of Rohit, Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who was the first of the three to quit in the midst of the Australian tour, according to the current MI bowling coach.

"It's sad and unfortunate that both have quit in such a close time." Occasionally, one of the greats retires, leaving the others to mingle with the younger people and adapt. However, that is the reality of this format. You respect their decision for its reasons, aware that it was made with a great deal of selflessness. However, I would argue that there are three of them. Man, I'm telling you, we'll miss Ash. All three of them."

Read Also: Gambhir Receives ‘Brutally Honest’ Critique Over Shreyas Iyer Omission Amid India’s Post-Kohli, Rohit Transition

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