IND vs ENG Tests | ‘Maybe it was time for him…’, Agarkar on Kohli’s retirement

The Board of Control for Cricket in India`s (BCCI) chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, on Saturday opened up on the Test retirement of stalwart Virat Kohli.

“Virat reached out in early April and said he wants to finish…Maybe it was time for him, and when it comes from him, you need to respect that. Both of them have earned that respect. We will obviously miss him. He is a guy who has played 123 test matches and scored 30 Test centuries,” Ajit Agarkar said during a press conference.

Further, Agarkar stated that following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, there will be big shoes to fill.

“When guys like these retire, it will always be big holes to fill. Ashwin retired a few months back as well. Those three guys are the stalwarts of our cricket. It is always difficult. I have had conversations with both of them,” said the chief of the India Men`s Senior Selection Committee.

Virat Kohli concluded his Test career with 123 matches, in which he scored 9,230 runs. The 36-year-old also has 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries to his name in the format. His career best score in Test cricket remains unbeaten 254 runs. He drew curtains on his career as India`s fourth-highest run-scorer in the longest format of the game.

He infused aggression and the culture of fitness into a team riddled with youth and experience.

On the other hand, India`s traditional opening batsman, Rohit Sharma, featured in 67 Test matches and accumulated 4,301 runs. The right-hander also had 12 tons and 18 half-centuries to his name with a top score of 212 runs.

Team India will now lock horns with England for a five-match Test series, starting from June 20. Ahead of the series, Shubman Gill has been appointed as India`s new Test captain. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been appointed as Gill`s deputy.

India`s Squad for Test tour of England: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, K L Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun nair, Nitish Redddy, Ravindra Kadeja, Dhurv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep singh and Kuldeep Yadav.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day