"They both are..." - Gautam Gambhir's colossal remark on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's ODI, Test cricket future after their T20I retirement

T20 WC winner himself Gautam Gambhir has urged Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue featuring for India in the longer formats of the game.

Gautam Gambhir's comments came in the light of Rohit Sharma (4231) and Virat Kohli (4188) announcing retirements from the shortest format of the game. They ended their illustrious career as the highest and the second-highest run-scorer of international T20 cricket respectively. 

Of course, the individual milestone wasn't their only achievement from the day out in Barbados' Kensington Oval. While Virat Kohli became a World T20 Champion for the first time, Rohit Sharma rejoiced in the feeling from 2007 in Johannesburg as a teenager. 

It was a moment that every Indian fan is going to remember and 2024 will be the third golden year of Indian cricket. The Asian Giants are now the joint-most decorated cricket team in the World with 4 trophies and are leveled with West Indies. At the summit is obviously Australia with 6 ODI World Cups with 1 World Test Championship and T20 World Cup each. 

To help India do that, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli played a pivotal role and they are really leaving the game as legends of the format. Not only are they leaving their spot for the younger generation to take over and flourish but they also showed the next team in the 2026 T20 WC as to how a modern-day tournament is won in tough conditions and amid unexpected situations.   

Their main focus will now be on the longer formats of the game. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both have been brutal forces in One Day cricket but the former is yet to win that format's biggest prize. Last year he almost did it in his first attempt as the captain but mighty Australians denied them on home soil, months after the WTC final loss to the same opponents. 

It is often said that wounded Lions are more dangerous and Virat Kohli proved that with his knock yesterday. Similarly, Rohit Sharma can try and fulfill the two dreams that went begging with his wounds from the 2023 finals making him wiser and sharper.

Gautam Gambhir urges Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue playing ODI and Test Cricket

It will, of course, depend on his fitness. In the meantime, Gautam Gambhir, who is possibly going to be India's next head coach, had praiseworthy words for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and also urged them to continue playing the longer formats.

Gautam Gambhir thanked and congratulated Kohli and Rohit for their contribution to Indian cricket and the World Cup win. Gambhir then claimed that he believes if they keep playing ODI and red-ball cricket, then India will get near more silverware.   

VIDEO | Here's what former cricketer Gautam Gambhir said on the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20 format.

"They both are great players and have done so much for Indian cricket. I really want to congratulate and wish them all the best. They still play One Day… pic.twitter.com/0lQAd9J3gd

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 30, 2024