Gautam Gambhir Reacts to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Retirement Talk: ‘It’s Their Call Alone’

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has finally responded to the high-profile retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, terming their decisions as extremely personal and calling for everyone to leave them alone.

Prior to India's forthcoming five-Test series in England, beginning June 20 in Leeds, Gambhir accepted the void left behind by the retirement of two of the country's greatest cricketers of the current era.

"I believe when you begin the game and when you wish to end it, it's a very personal decision," Gambhir told CNN-News18. "No one has the authority — be it the coach, the selector, or anybody in this nation — to instruct someone to retire. It is from within."

Rohit and Kohli had both retired from Test cricket earlier this month, ending a notable chapter spanning more than a decade in the history of Indian cricket.

Though Gambhir acknowledged the team will miss their experience, he pointed out the incentive this moment presents to upcoming players. "Yes, it'll be difficult, but then someone else'll put their hand up for sure," he said. "Someone missing out could give someone else a chance to do something special for the country."

He also indicated India's triumph in the Champions Trophy in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah as proof that the team is capable of still performing well even when it lacks its key veterans.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is anticipated to declare the Test squad and name the new red-ball captain on Saturday, according to reports. Gambhir, together with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, will be speaking to the media after the announcement.