The sudden Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have sparked debate across Indian cricket circles, and former cricketer Yograj Singh has now weighed in with strong words. The father of Yuvraj Singh believes both players retired too soon and that India may struggle to rebuild under a young squad led by the likes of Shubman Gill.
“A Team Full of Youngsters Will Fall Apart” – Yograj
In an interview with ANI, Yograj Singh said Kohli and Rohit still had years of cricket left in them, and their exit could create a vacuum in the dressing room.
“Virat is a big player. His retirement is a huge loss. When seniors left in 2011, the team fell apart and hasn’t recovered fully since,” Yograj noted.
He warned that building a team filled entirely with youngsters is risky, stating:
“If you form a team full of youngsters, it will always fall apart.”
“Rohit Needed Someone to Wake Him Up at 5 AM”
Yograj made a stark comparison between Kohli and Rohit. He said Kohli might feel he has nothing more to prove but claimed Rohit Sharma simply lacked day-to-day motivation.
“Maybe Virat feels that he has nothing more left to achieve. Rohit just needed one person to tell him to wake up at 5 AM and go run.”
He further stated that Rohit and Sehwag retired too early, insisting that the greatest players should play till the age of 50.
“I told Yuvraj the same. A player should retire only when he can no longer walk off the field.”
Gill to Lead the Next Chapter, But Is He Ready?
With Kohli and Rohit gone, Shubman Gill is expected to lead India’s transition in the upcoming five-Test series against England, beginning June 20 at Headingley.
But Yograj raised concerns over whether Gill is prepared for the challenge. The 25-year-old has scored 1,893 runs in 32 Tests at an average of 35.05, with five centuries — numbers that don’t quite match the lofty expectations placed on him.
Yograj’s fiery statements reflect a growing unease among former players and fans about India’s sudden generational shift in red-ball cricket. As a new World Test Championship cycle begins, all eyes will be on whether the next crop can live up to the legacy left behind by legends like Kohli and Rohit.
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