Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: Tale of two farewells

Time of India

19-05-2025

Case 1– James Anderson, the legendary fast bowler from England and one of the finest bowlers in the history of red ball cricket, announced his retirement from international cricket at Lord's in July 2024, following the first Test of England's home summer series against the West Indies. In a subsequent interview, Anderson revealed that he was given the option to conclude his Test career prior to the summer or to have a farewell match against the West Indies at the Home of Cricket. English team management made it clear that he would not be able to participate in the upcoming winter Ashes series. Anderson recognized that the decision was challenging but accepted the natural evolution of the team. He made his announcement in May and retired in July.
Case 2– In November 2024, Tim Southee, who holds the record as New Zealand's leading wicket-taker in international cricket across all formats, declared his intention to retire from Test cricket at his home ground in Hamilton in December 2024. He achieved a total of 776 international wickets, the highest for any New Zealand bowler. At Hamilton he received a proper farewell.
Case 3- On Instagram, on the evening of May 7, Rohit Sharma shared: 'Hello everyone, I would like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket.'
Case 4- After five days on May 12, Virat Kohli bid farewell to the format, announcing his retirement on social media after a distinguished 14-year journey.
Both these legends of Indian cricket walked away from the longest version of the game, within a week from one another. They leave an enormous hole and raise some serious questions around the kind of Test team India can field over the five critical Test matches in England. Virat Kohli scored 30 Test hundreds and was right up there with the Joe Roots, Steve Smiths and Kane Williamsons – dubbed the 'Fab 4'.
File photo of Indian cricketer Virat Kohli (Pic credit: AP)
These retirements highlight one significant disparity. The BCCI does not adequately honour its players' contributions by failing to arrange comparable farewells. Whether by choice or circumstance, both Anderson and Southee concluded their careers with a memorable farewell match. Cricket Australia also organized a heartfelt send-off for David Warner, while Indian cricket legends did not receive similar recognition. Ravichandran Ashwin retired during the Australian series, and in the past several senior players, including VVS Laxman, Virendra Sehwag, and Harbhajan singh, have also stepped away without such tributes.
The BCCI's selection committee frequently emphasizes future strategies and team transitions over acknowledging past achievements. For instance, in the case of Rohit Sharma, selectors were reportedly reluctant to keep him as captain due to his subpar performance in red-ball cricket, opting instead to develop a younger leader for the upcoming Test cycle. This strategy may result in sudden retirements without the chance for a formal farewell. Critics contend that the BCCI often lacks effective communication with players regarding their futures, resulting in retirements that seem abrupt or ill-timed. However, this issue appears to be more systemic within the cricket board.
File photo of Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma (Pic credit: AP)
The questions on Rohit's Test future had started swirling after he was dropped from India's Playing XI in the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. It signalled a shift in team dynamics and the beginning of Gautam Gambhir era where the coach will have full control over the dressing room. No doubt, both Kohli and Sharma experienced a dip in form during the 2024–25 seasons. Their performances led to increased scrutiny and discussions about their future in the Test format. Some reports also suggest that the BCCI had already decided to move on from Rohit as captain, leaving little room for a planned farewell. While, Virat Kohli's Test retirement has been described as a personal decision, but some reports also claim the BCCI pushed him toward it. It is also possible that both players may have preferred a quiet departure to avoid the fanfare and media attention. But in both the cases one thing is clear – communication gap.
In the past, numerous legendary players, including MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, among others, did not have the opportunity for appropriate farewell matches. Even Gautam Gambhir, the current coach of the Indian team, experienced a similar situation. The pressures of selection or indications from selectors regarding a player's future may have prompted these veterans to retire unexpectedly. Players also bear some responsibility for not coordinating their retirements to facilitate farewell opportunities.
The lack of communication between selectors, BCCI officials and senior players has been a recurring point of friction. VVS Laxman case is a typical example. VVS Laxman chose to retire immediately despite being selected for a Test series, turning down the opportunity to play a farewell match in front of his home crowd. Reports suggested that unclear or insensitive communication from selectors contributed to his abrupt decision to retire, possibly because he felt hurt by how the situation was handled.
File photo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Pic credit: PTI)
Unlike Cricket Australia or England Cricket Board, the BCCI hardly organises farewell matches. The only exception was the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar in 2013 after his 200th test match and that was because of his big stature and public pressure. In the case of MS Dhoni it is said that the BCCI wanted to give a proper farewell but Dhoni wanted a low-key exit. Comparing Indian cricket's treatment of retirees to other nations' practices highlights a poor show from the BCCI. BCCI, the richest cricket board in the world, definitely lacks a formal, transparent policy for handling player farewells. This is one area where the BCCI could improve its performance. Farewell is an emotional and legacy driven gesture for the past contributions and everyone deserves a dignified send-off.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.