Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to retire soon? Sanjay Bangar's shocking claim on India legends

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar recently made bold claims about veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's future with the national cricket team.

Sanjay Bangar predicted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may have longer careers than legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20 internationals following Team India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2024.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah recently confirmed that Rohit will continue to lead the team in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 and the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.

Rohit Sharma Will Continue To Play - Sanjay Bangar

The batting duo could be in contention for the World Cup 2027, but their fitness will be crucial to making it to the tournament. Virat won the ODI World Cup in 2011 under MS Dhoni's leadership, but Rohit hasn't won.

Sanjay Bangar said that Rohit and Virat can have long international careers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. He added that fitness standards and professional support, including nutritionists, have improved.

"I think Rohit will continue to play as long as his body and fitness allows him to. Because a player of that quality – Sachin played till 40, even Rahul played till 40 – with better fitness standards, more professionals are looking after players. Like a lot of nutritionists also are helping," Bangar said on The Rao Podcast.

Virat Kohli Playing Test Cricket For Another Five Years - Sanjay Bangar

Sanjay Bangar said that Test cricket would be the last format Virat Kohli would retire from. The former Indian batter added that Kohli could continue playing Test cricket for another five years, given his fitness and dedication.

"The players' careers are going to get longer, and in that process, if it benefits the Indian team, nothing like it. Even with Virat, depends on his body. The last format that he would give up away will be Test cricket. So, I am sure that you will see Virat playing Test cricket for another five years," Bangar added.

Don't Think That Would Have Been A Factor - Sanjay Bangar

Team India delivered an outstanding performance during the ODI World Cup 2023 at home. They reached the final match undefeated, where they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Australia. There was speculation that Rohit and Virat might have given up ODI cricket had India won the World Cup.

The 51-year-old dismissed the rumor that Rohit Sharma would have retired from ODIs even if India had won the World Cup at home last year.

"In today's time and age, the World Cup is happening every second year, or every year you have an ICC tournament. I don't think that would have been a factor. India winning the World Cup doesn't mean that Rohit is going to walk away," Bangar further stated.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are gearing up for an upcoming busy Test schedule. The Men in Blue will host the Bangladesh team for a two-match Test series next month. They will play against New Zealand in a red-ball series before traveling to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

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