May hasn't been kind to cricket fans, with Rohit Sharma announcing his departure from Test cricket, and soon after, Virat Kohli following suit too. Indian cricket fans will be journeying through the stream of memories as they dip into greatness — Kohli's iconic consecutive double centuries, winning at the land of the under for the first time with his impeccable leadership playing a crucial role, Rohit’s masterclass of an opening against South Africa in 2019, heroics at Lord’s under challenging conditions, silencing all the critics.
An era we took for granted — that would be the ideal way to describe the era we lived in, an era filled with joy, despair, and above all, one of the greatest batting frontiers Indian cricket has ever seen.
A long, glorious journey for both of them — Kohli playing for 15 years at the highest level, leading at the helm, accumulating a whopping forty wins in sixty-eight matches, the most wins by a Test captain, and to add to his tally, he scored 9,230 runs with an average of 46.85, achieving thirty centuries, thirty-one half-centuries along the way. Rohit was by no means less. Although he started late, he clocked in solid numbers, scoring 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, all in 67 matches. You have to wonder what could have been if Rohit had started as an opener way earlier.
Regardless, a wonderful journey in Indian cricket, providing our fans with joy and delight at the mere sight of the elegant cover drive or an arrogant pull shot.
With the Indian team losing huge assets, how they will move on is another question — or the question of who is capable of being the captain of the Indian Cricket Team. While Rohit’s retirement was a bit expected, Virat’s came as a surprise. A veteran of the format, a master of the game, at peak athleticism, was expected to either take the reins after Rohit’s retirement or be there for the next captain, playing the role of a supporter. Options like Bumrah and Jadeja exist, people with experience, yet it is not without barriers. Bumrah is a bowler, an exceptional bowler, no question, but being a captain too increases the workload massively. Jadeja is another option, but is it enough? Or will India trust the youngsters, like Dhoni trusted Kohli? Nevertheless, India will thoroughly miss one of the greatest captains, or if not, the greatest captain in the Test format.
Not only as a captain but also the sheer brilliance they exuded as batsmen — Rohit providing the necessary opening, smashing sixes after sixes without a care in the world, Virat acting as a powerful anchor at the non-striking end, at times, showcasing dazzling shots too. A huge loss for India, the loss of the two veteran batsmen, especially with the England tour coming up. The youngsters might struggle, as their lack of experience on foreign grounds might cause a bit of struggle with regard to batting.
And of course, who can forget the aggression, the sledging that Virat displayed? It was like a game with the Australians — Virat doubled the aggression and sent it to them, dominating them in the process. The great Australians — masters of the art of sledging never met much resistance, especially against India. The Indians were usually timid, that is, until Virat Kohli entered the fray. A new era of an aggressive India was born under Virat Kohli, with Rohit Sharma at his disposal.
The Test format isn't the same as the ODI or the T20 — it is a format that tests the wits massively, and in a game of wits, sledging is important.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018, when Virat gave the Australians a taste of their own medicine, serves as a reminder for us of how important and beneficial it is to have an aggressive member. There are members who are aggressive, of course, like Siraj, Pant, Gill, and Bumrah if he's heated — but still, Virat's presence was calming for us, and kryptonite for others.
While Rohit Sharma's retirement was not expected, it wasn't much of a shock — his lack of fitness and poor form during recent years had contributed much to this. Still, for a player of his experience and caliber, not being included in the squad for the upcoming matches might have contributed to the decision he took to retire from Test cricket. But Virat Kohli, a 36-year-old man, with fitness perfect for Test cricket, announcing his retirement from the whites and the baggy blue came as a shock for most.
Along with shock came suspicion — with Virat being a fan of the Test format, it is very surprising for him to retire this early. He has always expressed his love for this format. He once said, “For me, Test cricket is the ultimate format. It tests you in every way — mentally, physically, and emotionally. Nothing comes close to it.” So retiring, that too at the prime age of 36, is very surprising.
There is also the argument surrounding Gautam Gambhir, accusing him of being the one responsible for Kohli stepping down from red-ball cricket. Heated IPL rivalries that lasted over a decade — from LSG to KKR — are what led to Kohli's retirement, according to the keyboard warriors. Being the coach of the Indian National Team, of course, he would kick Kohli, a superstar of the highest caliber, out.
But we have to remind ourselves, again and again, that these are just speculations, speculations that arise when our favorite player leaves without notifying us.
Nonetheless, whatever speculations or rumours that surround this, an era of excellence — a decade of brilliance has ended. Ro-Ko says their goodbye to Test cricket. The baggy blues will feel emptier. It won't be the same as it was before. Yet let us be happy to be witnesses of what remains one of the greatest duos to ever play the game in cricket history.
Happy that we had front-row seats to greatness.