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STUMP VISION JUNE 06, 2025 | The Indian Eye 43

THE END OF AN ERA:

Is Team India Ready for Life Without

Kohli and Rohit in India’s Test Arena?

With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bidding farewell to Test cricket, India faces a defining crossroads — rebuilding
leadership, redefining resilience, and reimagining its identity in the game’s most demanding format.

OUR BUREAU with instability in Indian cricket.
In 67 Tests, Rohit scored 4,301
New Delhi
runs at an average of 40.57, including
n May 12, 2025, Indian cricket 12 centuries and a career-best of 212.
entered uncharted territory. His ability to weather early storms
OJust days after Rohit Sharma and build innings on spinning tracks
announced his retirement from Test gave India solidity at the top, espe-
cricket, Virat Kohli followed suit, cially at home.
stunning the cricketing world. Their His retirement on May 7, 2025,
exits didn’t just mark the end of two closed a chapter that began with
glittering careers; they closed a gold- flair in 2013 and matured into lead-
en chapter in India’s Test cricket story ership through resilience. “It’s a
— one built on passion, aggression, personal call,” said Thakur, “but it
tactical mastery, and relentless ambi- leaves the team with a huge leader-
tion. ship vacuum.”
Kohli and Rohit weren’t just elite The back-to-back exits of Kohli
batters or tactical leaders — they and Rohit ahead of the England
were cultural icons of India’s red-ball series — a tour that also marks
resurgence. Between them, they car- the start of India’s ICC World Test
ried the team across formats, shaped Championship 2025-27 campaign —
its values, and delivered performanc- thrust India into a high-stakes tran-
es that turned India into a dominant sition. With nearly 17,000 Test runs
force in world cricket. Their depar- and over 130 Tests of captaincy ex-
ture, especially ahead of a gruel- perience gone, the team now banks
ing five-Test series against England, on its new generation and a fresh
leaves a cavernous void — in the leadership core.
dressing room, in the batting order, Jadeja, now the most experi-
and in the team’s collective psyche. enced player in the side, must be-
Virat Kohli’s Test captaincy leg- come a tactical ally to the young
acy is etched in bold strokes. In 68 skipper and a pillar of stability in the
Tests at the helm, he won 40 — the dressing room. “It’s going to be a
most by any Indian skipper — while challenging but enriching tour,” said
losing just 17. His win percentage of Thakur, pointing to the team’s raw
58.82 places him among the world’s Virat Kohli (ANI) talent and renewed enthusiasm.
most successful captains, only behind The challenge for this post-
Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and even on home tracks, pushing for fit- summed it up best: “There is great Kohli-Rohit team isn’t just about
Steve Waugh in total wins. More no- ness benchmarks previously unseen, protection when senior players like filling shoes — it’s about forging a
tably, Kohli holds the distinction of and always setting the tone with the Rohit and Virat are around. Their new path. Kohli’s blueprint — of
being the most successful Asian Test bat. With 5,864 runs at an average of experience and presence were pillars aggression, fitness, and fast-bowling
captain. 54.80 as captain, including 20 centu- for the younger generation. Now, the supremacy — and Rohit’s calm tac-
“Virat’s approach was always ries, Kohli is India’s most prolific Test onus shifts.” tical precision must now be internal-
positive, especially in Tests,” Ravin- skipper with the bat. While Kohli brought fire, Rohit ized by a new core. The Test team will
dra Jadeja recalled in a conversation Globally, only three Test cap- Sharma brought calm. Appointed have to find its new No. 4, establish
with R. Ashwin. “He never gave up, tains — Smith, Border, and Ponting Test captain in early 2022, Rohit’s a consistent opening pair, and recon-
no matter the match situation. His — scored more runs than Kohli. His tenure was short but influential. He figure leadership roles both on and
mindset was always about taking 20 career-best of 254* was a testament guided India to a second consecutive off the field.
wickets — be it at home or away, with to his appetite for big scores, and his World Test Championship final and With a daunting England tour
45 overs left or three sessions to go.” total tally of 9,230 runs in 123 Tests maintained India’s proud home re- ahead and a new World Test Champi-
That mindset, that ceaseless hun- places him just behind Tendulkar, cord. Known for his tactical sharpness onship cycle beginning, Indian cricket
ger for victory, defined Kohli’s India. Dravid, and Gavaskar among India’s and clarity in decision-making, Rohit fans will hope the legacy left behind
He instilled an aggressive brand of all-time greats. also reinvented himself as a reliable by two modern giants continues to in-
cricket — prioritizing pace over spin Shardul Thakur perhaps Test opener — a role once fraught spire — even as a new chapter begins.

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