Cricket fans are used to of emotional farewells but some exits leave behind more questions than closure. The recent Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have done just that and former India cricketer Robin Uthappa believes the story may not be as straightforward as it appeared.
Earlier this year, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from Test cricket within days of each other in May. The timing alone stunned fans, as the Indian team suddenly lost its two most experienced batters ahead of an important phase. According to Robin Uthappa, the manner in which both the players stepped away did not feel organic and he suggested that the full picture would only emerge if the two legends choose to speak openly about it themselves in the future.
Rohit Sharma’s decision came soon after reports surfaced that the BCCI selectors were planning to remove him from Test captaincy ahead of India’s tour of England. The close timing of those developments raised eyebrows, with many wondering whether circumstances played a larger role in his retirement than simple personal choice. Virat Kohli’s announcement, however, caught almost everyone off guard. Unlike Rohit, there were no strong public signals that Kohli was nearing the end of his Test journey.
In fact, several reports suggested that the BCCI had tried to persuade Virat Kohli to rethink his decision. Adding to the surprise, his Delhi state team coach Sarandeep Singh had mentioned that just months earlier, Virat Kohli looked driven, focused and deeply invested in preparing for the England tour. To many observers, this made the sudden goodbye even harder to understand.
Sharing his thoughts on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa explained that while he could not surely say whether the retirements were influenced by external pressure, they did not resemble the kind of natural exit that usually comes after a player feels completely finished. He emphasised that only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma truly know what happened behind closed doors and that any real clarity would have to come from them, if they ever decide to share it.
Robin Uthappa also reflected on the Australia tour, where India suffered a 3-1 series defeat, which ultimately became the final chapter for both the players in Test cricket. He felt Rohit Sharma’s struggles with the bat during that tour were not an accurate reflection of his true ability. In his view, Rohit might have benefited from taking time away from the game to focus on fitness and return stronger, as he had little doubt about Rohit’s ability to score runs again.
While the retirements are now official, the debate around them continues. For fans, the hope remains that one day Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will share their side of the story and put lingering doubts to rest.
