'It is not up to me...': Ajit Agarkar breaks silence on Kohli-Rohit retirement as India enters Gill-era

Ajit Agarkar breaks silence on Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma retirement

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged that India has big shoes to fill following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but expressed confidence that other cricketers will rise to the occasion. The 38-year-old former captain Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, followed by another legend and former captain, Kohli, who retired on May 12.

“Virat reached out (to the BCCI/selection committee) in early April and he felt he had given everything he had. If he felt he could not be up to the standards that he has set, you have got to respect that," Agarkar said in a press conference on Saturday (May 24) after he announced India’s squad for the upcoming Test series against England.

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There were rumours about Kohli and Rohit's retirement from Test cricket after a below-par performance last year. Kohli began the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a century at Perth but could not continue his impressive batting scoring just 190 runs from all five Test matches he played against Australia.

Agarkar was questioned if the BCCI and others requested Kohli and Rohit to stay back for the England tour, considering the importance of the tie.

“When somebody takes a call (to retire), it is not up to me. Retirement is a personal call. It’s a new WTC (World Test Championship) cycle and you are looking at all scenarios to help build a team," Agarkar said.

There were rumours that Kohli wanted to travel to England for a farewell series, but Agarkar didn’t delve into it, saying that the decision to move away from Tests was made by the former captain.

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There were rumours that Virat Kohli had expressed interest in playing a farewell series in England, but chief selector Ajit Agarkar chose not to comment on them. He simply stated that the decision to step away from Test cricket was made by the former captain himself.

“When somebody decides, it’s not up to us. Our job is to pick up someone. But yes, when somebody finishes…two big cricketers, it will be a hole to fill. Of course, (Mohammad) Shami too is there, as he has done a lot for Indian cricket," Agarkar said.