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NEW DELHI: R Ashwin‘s sudden retirement from international cricket following the third Test in Brisbane left fans and experts stunned, creating a significant void in the Indian cricket team. Ashwin’s decision has sparked a debate among fans, shifting the spotlight to India’s senior stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and their future in red-ball cricket.
Is the clock ticking for Rohit and Virat?
Rohit, who missed the opening Test due to the birth of his second child, has struggled to make an impact in the series. With scores of 3 and 6 in the Adelaide Test, followed by 10 in the Brisbane Test, his form has become a cause for concern for Team India.
Similarly, Virat is also under scrutiny for his inconsistent performances with the bat.
Apart from his second-innings century in Perth — which came after Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul had already laid a strong foundation — Virat has been unable to convert starts into substantial scores. He recorded scores of 7 and 11 in the Adelaide Test and 3 in the Brisbane Test, further raising questions about his current form.
Former India cricketer Sunil Joshi believes the physical and mental demands of modern-day cricket require players like Virat and Rohit to carefully assess their fitness and longevity in the game.
“Rohit and Virat know what their bodies can handle and how much they have left to give,” said Joshi, who represented India in 15 Tests and 69 ODIs between 1996 and 2001.
Joshi also expressed confidence in Washington Sundar’s readiness to take on the mantle as India’s frontline spinner following Ashwin’s retirement.
TimesofIndia.com caught up with Sunil Joshi to discuss Ashwin’s unexpected retirement, the future of Rohit and Virat in Test cricket, India’s prospects of winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and much more.
With the series tied at 1-1 and two Tests remaining, what’s your prediction for the outcome?
The series is quite poised. The way we came back in the Brisbane Test, even in the second innings, the way we bowled, I think it was absolutely spot on. Our fast bowlers picked up wickets effectively. If the match had continued, it could have been anyone’s game. I’m pretty positive because, having said that, we know the history of Brisbane and the previous series. We know what happened in Brisbane—that’s where I’m coming from. I think it’s very important for us to bat well in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test, whether we bat first or second. We need to put runs on the board because we have bowlers who can pick up wickets.
Were you surprised by Ashwin’s retirement announcement?
We need to respect the decision he took. If he’s already made up his mind, we need to consider and give him that much of a platform because he was a match-winner. Without a doubt, I can say easily that in the last five to ten years, he has really served Indian cricket and world cricket very well in all formats of the game. We need to respect his decision because when the time comes for individual decisions, we must respect them.
Ashwin’s retirement has left a significant void in the team. How do you think India can fill it?
With 500-plus wickets in his Test career and close to 700 international wickets, it’s not easy to achieve such a feat. India will definitely miss him, but India has an option ready in Washington Sundar. He is already in the making. I am pretty confident and optimistic that Washington Sundar is prepared and will do well. He has repeatedly proven, especially in red-ball cricket, that he is an asset with both bat and ball. He should be India’s designated spinner and should be given more opportunities.
Was it the right decision for Ashwin to retire in the middle of the series? Should he have completed the series before stepping away?
I do not agree on that part because, even in previous years, many players and legends have announced their retirement in the middle of a series. MS Dhoni, for instance. Virat Kohli also announced his retirement before the T20 World Cup. We must respect that. If someone has become a legend, we need to respect them, don’t we? Today, if the same thing happened with any other cricketer, we would have respected it. So, we need to respect Ashwin. He’s been a legendary cricketer for India and the rest of the world, and even the opposition has immense respect for him.
Is Washington Sundar ready to take on the responsibilities of filling the gap left by Ashwin?
Definitely. Washi is ready. You need to give him time and as many opportunities as possible. He has already proven that he is good with both bat and ball. So, he is ready to fill that gap. Ashwin came in when Harbhajan left, and there were questions about whether Ashwin would be able to fill Bhajji’s big shoes. But Ashwin did well and became a vital part of the Indian setup. So, let’s give Washi time and chances, and I am sure he will become a match-winner for India. The way Washi bowled in the New Zealand series was absolutely top-class. You need to give Washi the time, just as Gautam Gambhir was given. People spoke about it when India was losing series, but it’s similar for every individual.
Is India overly reliant on Jasprit Bumrah to deliver results in this series?
Because he’s been the world’s best bowler, the responsibility is on his shoulders, and he’s delivering as well. The best part is that he’s delivering and enjoying the vice-captaincy and captaincy roles. When Rohit was unavailable, he captained in the Perth Test and guided India to a big win. Due to his capabilities and skill set, Bumrah is the best in the world. The opposition is already on the back foot, and credit goes to Bumrah. We also have bowlers like Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep, who are playing supporting roles to their senior bowler. They are working hard, and it’s evident from their performances in Australia.
Following Ashwin’s retirement, there’s speculation about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future in Tests. Do you think we could see more retirements at the end of this series?
Again, it all depends on each individual. Rohit and Virat know best about their futures. Considering their young families, the travel, hustle, and responsibilities, are they going to play all three formats of the game? It’s not easy because the game demands so much commitment. It’s up to each individual. Legends in the past played alongside their families and traveled, but modern-day cricket is far more demanding. In my opinion, we should leave it to the players to decide their careers because they know what their bodies can handle and how much they have left to give.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has struggled against left-arm pacers, and Shubman Gill hasn’t found form in this series. How crucial will their performances be in the remaining Tests?
There is an opportunity to come back stronger and score runs. It’s all about how badly you want to do well. In my personal view, Australia is the best place to test your patience, character, and skill. If you perform there, you return with a lot of confidence. Both Yashasvi and Shubman are young, and I’m sure they will find form soon.
With Ashwin retired and Rohit and Virat eventually stepping away in the not-so-distant future, do you believe the Indian Test team is in safe hands for the long term?
Obviously, the team will go through a transition, but every team must face this. Every five years, a team goes through a transition period. In the past, Sachin, Sourav, Rahul, Sehwag, and Anil retired, and they were replaced by champions like Rohit, Virat, Ashwin, MSD, and Jadeja. The champions will move on, and new champions will emerge. Look at Yashasvi and Shubman—both have immense potential. Shubman has had just one bad series. One bad series doesn’t turn a good player into a bad one. He has proven himself in all formats and scored centuries. A single poor series doesn’t take that credit away.
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