Gautam Gambhir issues official statement on allegations of forcing Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma to retire

As the selectors set to pick the squad for the England tour on May 24, India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir has finally broken his silence on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s recent retirements from Test cricket.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had announced their retirement from Test cricket earlier this month. With both legendary batters stepping away from the longest format of the game, the India National Cricket Team will head to the important tour of England without their most seasoned campaigners.

Gautam Gambhir denies any role in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's Test retirement

Many fingers have been pointed at Gautam Gambhir after the iconic batters have suddenly called time on their Test careers earlier this month. However, the Indian head coach has stressed that the retirement call is a personal decision.

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The Indian head coach has noted that no coach, selector, or anyone else has the right to decide when a player should retire, denying any role in Kohli and Rohit’s retirement.

Gautam Gambhir was quoted as saying by CNN-News18: “I think, when you start the game and when you want to finish, it’s a very individual decision. No one has the right. Be it the coach or the selector, be it anyone in this country has any right to tell someone when to retire and when not to retire. So, it comes from within.”

Gautam Gambhir backs youngsters to shine in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's absence

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir believes that the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the upcoming England tour is a chance for young players to shine. The head coach admitted that they will miss two of their experienced players in the high-voltage Test series, but at the same time, it also opens the door for others to step up and prove themselves.

Gambhir further explained, “And yes, we’ve got to be without two senior players to really experience players. And sometimes I believe that it’s the opportunity for some other people to put their hand up and say, Okay, I’m ready for it. So yes, it will be tough, but then there’ll be people putting their hand up for sure because this question was asked of me before.”

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The former Indian opener and World Cup further recalled India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 triumph in Dubai, where the team was without their premier speedster Jasprit Bumrah, but others stepped up and delivered for the Men in Blue.

Gautam Gambhir calls for new heroes to emerge for India

In that tournament, Mohammed Shami was well supported by Hardik Pandya, and Varun Chakravarthy made the most of the opportunity and played a key role in the team’s success. Just like ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Gambhir hopes others are ready to do something special for the country on the England tour in Kohli and Rohit’s absence.

He signed off by saying, “When Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t there and I said exactly the same thing, someone missing out might give another person an opportunity to do something special for the country; hopefully, there’ll be other guys waiting for that opportunity.”

Notably, Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs from 123 matches with the help of 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. On the other hand, Rohit ended his Test journey with 4,301 runs in 67 matches, scoring 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries at an average of 40.57.