Dinesh Karthik drops a bombshell on Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma's retirement from international cricket

Ever since the Test series between India and New Zealand has ended, there has been one constant question which is surrounding Indian cricket. The question is regarding the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had a poor Test series against New Zealand as they faced the consequences of a shocking clean sweep at home. However, former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik feels that it is not the right time to ask these players for retirement.

Instead, Dinesh Karthik has backed them by saying that one bad series does not make them a bad cricketer. During the conversation, Karthik also admitted that Indian batters lack in ability to play spin which is unlike their predecessors.

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Dinesh Karthik breaks silence on retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

During a query segment on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik was asked whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should retire from Test cricket permanently. But the former India wicketkeeper feels that one bad series is not enough to start thinking about their retirement.

However, he gave Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli time for ten more Tests and feels there will be calls for their retirement if they fail in the next 10 Test matches.

"What is the hurry boss? One bad series and already calling for the heads. I don't think so. I think, if they don't do well in the next 10 Test matches, then we will come back to this question and then it becomes a fair question, considering it's going to be another domestic season. For the moment, I don't think we need to group anyone anywhere," Dinesh Karthik said.

Rohit Sharma scored 91 runs in three Tests at an average of 15.16 in the Test series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli scored 93 runs at an average of 15.50. Both of them registered just one fifty across six innings.

Dinesh Karthik admits India "lack in ability to play spin"

India's gameplay against spin bowling has been another huge concern recently. The batters were all at sea against New Zealand's spinners as they struggled to counter them in familiar conditions.

Dinesh Karthik was quick to admit this weakness and claimed that India cannot play spin. Karthik further accepted that the defensive game of the batters has been affected badly due to the increase in the white-ball games and that's the reason why Indian batters are struggling to play the opposition spinners.

"Our bowling was not up to the mark. Our spinners, especially the experienced ones, didn't have a great series. Batting, without a doubt, we lack in ability to play spin," Karthik reckoned.

"The defense game overall around the world has definitely decreased because of the white-ball formats and that goes without saying but the Indian players have struggled to cope against spin," he added.

New Zealand spinners dismantle India's batting

Barring the first Test where the seamers ruled the show, New Zealand spinners were all over India throughout the series. Mitchell Santner proved to be the match-winner in the second Test in Pune with 13 wickets in the match.

In the third Test in Mumbai, Ajaz Patel rose to the occasion and claimed 11 wickets in the match. He won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant performance. Apart from these two spinners, off-spinning allrounder Glenn Phillips also provided crucial breakthroughs.

Apart from Rishabh Pant, no other Indian batter looked comfortable at the crease throughout the series. Pant also emerged as the highest run-getter of the series with 261 runs in three Tests at an average of 43.50.