Former World Cup-winning all-rounder Madan Lal has advised the BCCI not to consider pushing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma towards retirement, as he insisted that they are playing as they used to play a decade ago.
After a humiliating defeat in the Test series, India was backed by their two veterans, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, when they turned to ODIs, the only format in which the two veterans continue to represent India.
The first ODI at Ranchi marked a masterclass from Virat Kohli as he got to his 52nd ODI century, and Rohit Sharma too backed him up with a half-century and a 136-run partnership between the two. The second match also marked a promising show from Kohli, who raised the bar with back-to-back hundreds.
It is their decision and not anybody else’s: Madan Lal
Seeing the promising form of the 37-year-old Virat Kohli and the determination of the 38-year-old Rohit Sharma, no Indian fan would want them to retire as of now. Former Indian selector Madan Lal seems to be one among the countless Indians to have made the same appeal to the BCCI.
The former World Cup winner has warned the incumbent selection committee and the Indian team management not to pressurise either of the two greats into retirement from international cricket.
He has further stressed the fact that they both are extensively experienced cricketers and should be given the liberty to decide when to walk away.
“It is their decision and not anybody else’s. So (it should be) whatever they decide,” Lal told PTI Videos on the sidelines of an Asian Legends League Season 2.
“They look like they are some 28 or 30 years old”
The BCCI has constantly been concerned over their fitness, longevity and most importantly, the lack of gametime. Even earlier this week, a report had suggested that the decision-makers are waiting for a potential slip-up from either of these players to justify their exclusion from the team.
He further added that after they decided to commit themselves to playing just one format, they have shown further determination to prove themselves every time they make it out in the middle.
“But the way they are playing the ODI series, shows that they are still very, very fresh and look like they are some 28 or 30-years-old.
“The way Virat Kohli is running (between the wickets while) taking the singles and hitting the balls. It’s nice to see (the way they are going),” he added.
Madan Lal backs Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar:
The former coach and selector went on to sympathize with Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, who have been fired with criticism ever since India’s whitewash in the home Test series against South Africa.
“The first person to be criticised is the coach and the selector; I have been both, so they will get the criticism, never mind. As long as your conscience is right, that matters,” he said.
“If the team is not doing good, then it becomes a case of (critics) going after the selectors. But if the team is not doing well, then it is also a calculative thing that your coach is as good as your team,” he concluded.