Former India cricketer Anil Kumble criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over its handling of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements. The two senior players announced their exit from the longest format within five days of each other, and just weeks before the scheduled selection meeting for India’s upcoming Test tour of England.
Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Anil Kumble said that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli deserved a proper farewell from Test cricket. He questioned the BCCI over why neither the players nor their fans were given the opportunity to witness a fitting send-off and urged the concerned authorities to address the issue.
“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,” he said.
Kumble also voiced concern over the major void left in the Indian Test team following the retirements of Kohli and Rohit, particularly with the important tour of England approaching — a place where India has struggled to win a series over the past decade.
“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,” he added.
In the absence of Kohli and Rohit, India will not only have a new captain — reportedly Shubman Gill — but will also field a revamped batting line-up. The five-match Test series, set to kick off on June 20, will also mark the start of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.