As India gears up for a grueling five-Test tour of England to kick off the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the absence of two generational icons—Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—has cast a long shadow over the team’s preparations. Both players retired from Test cricket within days of each other, leaving a leadership vacuum and raising questions about how their exits were handled.
Kumble criticizes BCCI for low-key retirements
Former India captain and head coach Anil Kumble has publicly criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not giving Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin a fitting farewell. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Kumble made his disappointment clear.
“Right now, Rohit Sharma, a few days ago and then Virat Kohli. I think all three of them deserved a proper send-off on the field. I strongly believe people who matter need to address that. I know it is a social media age, yes, the fans want to be there, there would have been plenty of fans and have a roaring send-off,” Kumble said.
All three players retired from the longest format within months of each other—Ashwin during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, followed by Rohit and Kohli ahead of the England tour. Despite their immense contributions to Indian cricket, none received the kind of farewell many believe they had earned.
A massive leadership void ahead of England Test series
India’s tour of England, beginning June 20, is seen as one of the toughest assignments in Test cricket. The timing of the retirements has left the selectors scrambling to recalibrate leadership and experience within the squad.
“Rohit has retired, he had been captain for a while and Virat is probably the most accomplished captain for India and you would have wanted one of the guys to be around. England is going to be tough, it is a five-Test… I think it must have come as a surprise to the selectors as well. I’m sure the selectors would have looked to pursue him,” Kumble added.
In Kohli, India loses its most successful Test captain, while Rohit had taken over the reins in recent years. Their sudden departure just ahead of a marquee series has disrupted planning, with rising star Shubman Gill now expected to step into a bigger leadership role.
A generational shift in Indian Test cricket
With the retirements of Kohli, Rohit, and Ashwin, Indian cricket is undergoing a seismic transition in the Test arena. Their exits mark the end of an era dominated by consistent overseas wins, tactical leadership, and all-round excellence.
The upcoming series in England will be the first real test of how well India can transition without its senior-most players—both on and off the field. While younger talents like Gill and others are ready to step up, the lack of a ceremonial goodbye for the outgoing legends has sparked widespread criticism.
For Kumble and many others, the issue is not just about cricketing strategy but about acknowledging the legacy of players who defined an era.
