“No One Has the Right to Tell Someone When to Retire - Gautam Gambhir Rubbishes Speculation on His Role in Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's Test Retirements

Just before Team India’s impending five-match Test tour of England, which begins on June 20, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their Test retirements, leaving Indian cricket in a state of shock.

While Rohit struggled throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, scoring just 31 runs in five innings, Kohli put up a valiant fight in Perth, scoring a century, but ended up with only 190 runs in the entire series as another disappointing tour came to an end.

It was being reported that head coach Gautam Gambhir had a critical role in phasing out the senior duo from the Test set-up because of their extended lean patch in the red-ball format. However, Gambhir has denied such claims, stating that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirements were their personal calls and no one, including him, can force their influence on this decision.

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Gautam Gambhir Denies Any Influence on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Test Retirements

The sudden exits of these two giants of Indian cricket, Kohli and Rohit, led to a lot of speculation with fans and pundits questioning whether external pressures played a part. 

India’s head coach Gambhir has now addressed the issue, firmly denying any involvement in their choices, terming their retirement calls as personal decision.

"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, 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," Gambhir said as quoted to CNN-News18.

While the retirements of these two legends leave big shoes to fill, Gambhir sees positives in this, mentioning that it gives the opportunities to other players to step up and make their mark. He cited the example of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the Champions Trophy 2025. Bumrah's absence did not matter much as the other Indian bowlers responded well and helped India lift the trophy.

"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 to me before. Champions Trophy as well. 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," Gambhir added.

Who Can Replace Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma in Test Cricket?

As per the reports, the Indian team management is seeing Shubman Gill as Rohit’s captaincy successor. As far as the opening spot is concerned, there is a contender emerging in Sai Sudharsan. KL Rahul also opened in Rohit's absence in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and he could also be an option.

Kohli, who used to bat at No. 4 in Test cricket, could be replaced by the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair or Sarfaraz Khan. Giil recently adjusted to the No. 3 spot in the format but he could also move down a position and accommodate accordingly.

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