Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's unexpected Test retirements just before the England tour shocked everyone, and legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble felt the same way.
Kumble believes that both Rohit and Kohli deserved an on-field farewell. He also thinks that some years are left for both players.
"It is a huge surprise. Two outstanding, great players are retiring in the next few days. I didn't see it coming. It has certainly caught me off guard. I thought he has a few more years left in him, especially at the Test level," Kumble stated on 'ESPNCricinfo'.
"He's playing only the ODI format now. No player leaves with any regret and I am sure he would have thought through this and ultimately it is the player's call," he added.
Also read: "Virat Kohli's act was not of disappointment, but resignation"- Sanjay Manjrekar sends shockwaves
Anil Kumble was the Indian team head coach between 2016 to 2017. He was forced to quit his tenure before the duration because of the rift between him and that time India's skipper Kohli.
In his tenure, India was the number one side in the Test rankings. Kumble served the shortest time as a permanent coach in the Indian team.
Kumble finished his cricket career with 619 wickets in Test cricket, and he is India's leading wicket-taker in the red-ball format.
Anil Kumble believes Ravichandran Ashwin also deserved a proper send-off
The three Test greats of India, Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, announced their retirement from Test cricket in a span of six months. None of them got a proper send-off from the field.
Kumble believes that all three of them deserve a proper send-off on the field. In the modern era, every player has a big fan base, but an on-field farewell is something a player wants before his retirement.
"Rohit has retired, he had been captain for a while, and Virat is probably the most accomplished captain for India, and you would have wanted one of the guys to be around," Kumble said.
Anil Kumble shows concern in the Indian Test team
Anil Kumble also expressed his concerns regarding the experience and depth left in the Indian Test squad after Kohli and Rohit's retirement.
One of the most important overseas tour of England is coming, and India will be going without their two most experienced players in the squad.
Team India finds the England tour as the most difficult tour in the last decade. Every time, their batting unit is exposed in the English conditions.
The dressing room won't be the same after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's departure. Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj also gave tribute to Kohli and Rohit. Siraj wrote about Kohli's wonderful journey in Test cricket, and his legacy will be remembered forever.
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