Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were still among the most senior players of India when the team travelled to Australia in November 2024 for a five-match Test series. Rohit captained the side, while Kohli took on the No. 4 batting role. Expectations were high but the series turned out to be disappointing for both — the team and its biggest names. India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 and neither Rohit nor Kohli made the impact many had hoped for.
Rohit Sharma featured in only three of the five Tests and could score just 31 runs overall. Virat Kohli played all five matches but managed only 190 runs across nine innings. For two players who had carried the team’s batting for years, the performance drew sharp reactions from fans, analysts and former cricketers. Many speculated that the series might be their last outing in Tests.
They remained silent in the immediate aftermath and talk of retirement cooled down. But a few months later, just before India was scheduled to pick its squad for the Test tour of England, both the players made their decisions public. Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket through an Instagram story on May 7 in the evening, while Virat Kohli followed with a post on May 12, closing the book on his 123-match Test journey. Their decisions marked the end of an era and although expected by some, the timing still surprised many.
Now, months after those announcements, former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri has shared his perspective on how things unfolded. Having coached both the players during his tenure from 2017 to 2021, Shastri revealed that neither Rohit nor Kohli was told to step away from Tests. According to him, the choice was entirely their own. He suggested that if they ever feel the same way about One Day Internationals, they might choose to walk away without external pressure.
Ravi Shastri explained that players of their stature know when they are no longer enjoying the format or when form becomes a concern and they may choose to act on that instinct themselves. His comments added a fresh layer to the discussion around their future in limited-overs cricket.
Here is the video clip from the interview:
https://x.com/rishabhiit7/status/1978653470732497260
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For now, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain active in ODIs and are part of India’s squad for the three-match series against Australia beginning October 19 in Perth. Their selection shows that the team management still values their experience and presence on the field.
When asked about how long they might continue in the format, Ravi Shastri says that it depends on several factors — how much desire they still have, how fit they feel and whether the passion to compete at the highest level still drives them. He stressed that players with such experience can contribute in more ways than just with the bat, especially in high-pressure situations.
He also suggested that rather than looking too far ahead, it would be wiser for both the players to approach their careers one series at a time. A good performance in the upcoming games, he believes, could boost their confidence and help them look forward to future assignments, including the series in South Africa.
Their Test retirements may have closed one chapter but their journeys in ODIs are still unfolding and for now, both remain key figures in the Indian setup.
