As the Indian men’s cricket team enters the Gautam Gambhir era, starting with the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in July, the focus is on veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both have recently retired from T20 internationals following the World Cup, and while they are past the age of 35, Gambhir has left the decision about their future to them.
Gambhir, at his first press conference as head coach since replacing Rahul Dravid, acknowledged their potential longevity in the game. “Both Rohit and Virat have proven themselves on the big stage, whether in the T20 World Cup or the 50-over World Cup,” Gambhir said. “They certainly have a lot of cricket left in them, especially with the Champions Trophy in 2025 and a major tour of Australia in November 2024. If they maintain their fitness, they could even be around for the 2027 ODI World Cup.”
However, Gambhir emphasized that the decision on how long they stay in the team is ultimately up to the players themselves. “It’s a personal decision for them,” he noted. “How much they can contribute to the team’s success is crucial. Despite their age, both Virat and Rohit remain world-class players and any team would benefit from having them for as long as possible.”
Also read: Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference Reveals Why Surya was Appointed as the Captain instead of Pandya
Gautam Gambhir also revealed interesting facts about certain selection decisions. He said that Hardik Pandya’s issues with fitness has forced them to select Suryakumar Yadav as the captain in the T20Is. Gambhir also confirmed the appointment of Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate in the coaching department of India Cricket Team.