“Deserved On-Field Send-Off: Anil Kumble Left Fuming Over Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Test Retirements

The “silent” test pensions by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma before the tour of England were a “huge surprise” for the legendary spinner and the former captain of India Anil Kumble, who thinks that the two senior strikers deserved a farewell on the field. Kohli announced on Monday his Test Cricket retirement, dropping the curtains on an illustrious red ball career during which he played 123 games, marking 9,230 points at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. It was after Rohit decided to move away from the longest format last Thursday.

“It’s a huge surprise. Two great exceptional players withdrew on the back of a few days. I did not see it coming. It certainly took me off guard. I thought it still a few years left, especially at the level of the test,” said Kuble on Kohli on ‘Espncricinfo’.

“He only plays the ODI format now.

Kuble, who finished as the main carriers of India test counters with 619 Camarapes, said that players of such a stature should have had the opportunity to bow to fans.

“This is a very quiet outing. Each player deserves to go on his conditions, but I think on the ground. We talked about it when R Ashwin also retired, in the middle of the series, he announced his retirement and returned (in Australian India).

“At the moment, Rohit Sharma a few days ago, then Virat Kohli. I think all three deserved an appropriate shipment on the ground. I firmly believe that people who count to remedy them. I know that it is a social media age, yes, fans want to have there, there would have been a lot of fans and have a roaring ship.

India is expected to visit England for a series of five -game tests from June 20. Kuble said that Kohli could have played a crucial role during the difficult mission.

“Rohit retired, he had been a captain for some time and Virat is probably the most accomplished captain in India and you would have wanted one of the guys to be around.

“England will be difficult, it is a five test test … I think it must have been a surprise for the selectors. I am sure that the selectors would have sought to continue it.”

The dressing room will not be the same: Siraj

The Indian stimulator Mohammed Siraj also paid a brilliant tribute to Kohli, his former captain.

“Congratulations on this wonderful career that you had in the test cricket. Your inheritance will remain forever,” wrote Siraj on “X”.

“You have inspired generations of cricket players like me and will continue to do so with your achievements and how you transported Bhaiya.

“The locker room will not be the same without you. Thank you for always supporting me and motivating me to do well. I wish you the best. King @ virat.kohli Bhaiya.” The veteran of India Bhuvnehwar Kumar also praised his teammate from India and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for having transformed the test team.

“The way Virat has capitalized in the test format, it deserves the merit of how we have transformed into a team,” he said in a statement.

“I think the reason is the nature of Virat in the field. It is aggressive, we all know it, and in test cricket, you need this nature somewhere, because test cricket is a format that lasts five days.”

(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)