For the first time since Virat Kohli made the bombshell announcement to retire from Test cricket, Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI chairman of selectors, opened up on the big decision, confirming that the former India captain reached out to him and conveyed his decision to walk away from the format. Kohli, last Monday, bid adieu to Test cricket – a format he so dearly loved and advocated for – breaking the hearts of a million Indian cricket fans. The decision was all the more shocking because he was just 36 when legends before him, such as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, carried on till 39-40. With Kohli having retired from T20Is last year, the belief was that he would be a regular feature in India’s Test set-up heading into the fresh World Test Championship cycle.
However, when the news broke that he had told the BCCI his desire to retire this close to the start of the England tour, it took some time to sink in. Despite reports that the board was trying to convince Kohli to reverse his decision, raised hopes – albeit a little – but as it turned it, the effort had little impact as the decision was made final and official soon after. As the BCCI announced India’s 18-member squad for the England tour starting June 20 at Headingley, Agarkar respected Kohli’s decision, saying when someone of his stature thinks he cannot contribute 100 percent, perhaps it’s indeed time to go.
‘Maybe it was time for him’, says Agarkar
“When guys like that retire, it’s always going to be big holes to fill. Even Ashwin retired a few months back. All those guys are stalwarts of Indian cricket. It’s always difficult. One way to look at it is that it’s an opportunity for someone else. Obviously, I’ve had conversations with both of them over the last couple of months. Virat obviously reached out in early April and said he wants to finish,” Agarkar, the former India pacer, said during the BCCI press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.
“We’ve seen him want to give 200 percent every ball that plays… even when he’s not batting and in the field. He had given everything that he had and if he can’t keep up to the standards that he’s set for himself over the years and how good he has been, maybe it was time for him.”
The England Tests will make the first instance since 2011 that the Indian team will be without Kohli, Rohit and Ashwin, but at the same time, Agarkar insisted on what the future holds and hoped youngsters will step up and deliver. And the Indian squad features plenty of them. Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh are players who have not done too many things wrong, and while it may take Indian cricket time to find replacements for three of their biggest match-winners, the transition has begun.
It’s chance for someone else, insists Agarkar
“It’s tough for him; you’ve got to respect that. They have earned that respect, both of them, and the one thing with great players is that they are true to themselves. When you’ve got a guy who’s played 123 Test matches, you will obviously miss them. It’s tough to fill that spot, but it’s an opportunity for someone else. He has shown what needs to be done to succeed at this level,” Agarkar added.
Needless to say, even Rohit… he has been a leader over the year. A couple of years since he started leading in Test matches. It’s a new cycle and an opportunity for us to build something new. But there is no doubt. You’ve got to show them respect instead of speculating too many things. Like I said, their performances over the years – the amount of games they have won for India – it’s someone else’s chance now. There’s no doubt. All three of them.”
