BCCI Retirement Fishy Saga: Why Ashwin, Rohit and Kohli retired back to back in Test Cricket?
Yes by title, BCCI Retirement Fishy Saga is kept not to keep any controversy rather than understand and analyze, what is happening in BCCI behind the scenes, Ashwin retired in the mid of Border-Gavaskar Series which India lost.
With Ashwin retiring in the mid of the tour raises questions is there something wrong in Indian Dressing room whether selection committee head and coach Gautam Gambhir should communicate with players in better ways.
However, Gambhir always talks to the point when he was recently asked about retirement plan for Senior Players including the likes of- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retirement plan to which he said “Its their individual call but we need them both for Indian Cricket”.
Days after Rohit Sharma bids adieu to Test Cricket another questions popped as quoted by inside sources close to BCCI where he said ” Rohit wanted to continue playing Test Cricket, for at least two matches out of 5 games series they would be playing against England, post his form he wanted to take his decisions about his Test future. BCCI management weren’t in favor of that decision as based on that combinations for Team India would get disturbed and ultimately Rohit Decided to plan his retirement in Test Cricket”
This marks a questions as based on his last Interview to Cricket Journalist Vimal Kumar where he said “He is excited for the Upcoming series against England. He would be looking to replicate India in the Upcoming Tour brilliantly” said Rohit Sharma.
For him to take retirement makes no sense at all.
The next retirement which came in less than 24 hours, came in the form of Virat Kohli(Star Batter) who announced his retirement via social media post again makes me raise questions what’s happening behind BCCI closed door.
If we go by Logic, Kohli already decided to retire from Test Cricket where he communicated to BCCI managed couple of days before he didn’t see his place in the longest format of the game and he is already done with Test Cricket.
BCCI tried convincing him but at the end it was Kohli’s call and he took his retirement.
There are several questions which still needs to be answered to be shared in the below format:
1. It’s Okay that Retirement call is players personal decisions, based announcing it social media post rather than giving them farewell match should be organized players for such a big stature who have done immense services to Indian Cricket.
2. BCCI Could convince players for at least one match to play, as farewell match and going forward it should be a norm where big players should be keep in alignment so that they get al least one farewell match.
3. BCCI, have kept Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in A+ category along with Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah so keep those two players in A+ contract where they would be playing only ODI Cricket considering 50 over format matches have been significantly reduced to greater extent.
4. The way Kohli and Sharma both retired from Test and T20I format, where they would continue to play in ODI format, it seems their plan is continue till 2027 ODI World Cup scheduled in South Africia, Namibia and Zambia. It would be perfect failry tale ending for RO-KO( commonly used for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) would be looking to end their ODI career while winning 50 Over format as they failed to win 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad against Australia where they lost the final.
5. Several people have paid tribute to Virat Kohli via social post, but the biggest problem is what suddenly went wrong for Kohli who have been one of the most successful captains for India in test format with aggregate percentage more than 50%.
6. Kohli, has been phenomenal in the longest format of the game his void will be perfectly felt in Indian dressing room.
7. Overall communication could be streamlined in a better way so that players and management are on the same page.
8. BCCI management with these two back to back retirement would be looking to rebuild his squad especially in the longest format of the game, where they have to develop players in their arsenal in order to compete against teams in the world to mark their absolute dominance in the longest format of the game.
9. There is one thing which I have ideally seen in last few years which certainly needs to be corrected or BCCI management should certainly communicate most news come from Sources all these news are correct whether it is related to Rohit leaving Test Captaincy or Kohli retiring from Test Cricket all these news come from BCCI sources inside of that if BCCI stakeholders should come and communicate these to journalist and fans, it would be complete transparency and no more speculation around the game would be developed.
10. Lastly, BCCI should be credited for empowering domestic talent, making IPL as one of the biggest cricket league in the world, financially empowering players to the core where players who can’t make at the highest level instead they can still run their family with financial incentives they will receive but when it comes to stating inside sources news, BCCI could communicate directly with Journalist and fans as Cricket is not a religion its much more than that.
Overall, with these three outgoing Players in Test Cricket, it will leave void in Indian Cricket especially the timings where it came is the start of next edition of World Test Championship next cycle for 2025-27 edition where they would be playing against England which won’t be easy tour at all and the worst thing for India is batter’s inability to deceive any bowlers in those english conditions where Duke ball is used.
The batters needs to read the art of playing Reverse swinging balls in those conditions, someone like KL Rahul must be selected considering his experience and technically sound player who can do wonders in those conditions.
When it comes to Indian Cricket, next big thing would be IPL 2025, remaining matches and the same will be streamed live on Star Sports and the same will be streamed on Jiohotstar app.
