Kapil Dev Reacts to Rohit Sharma’s Retirement Announcement

Rohit Sharma’s sudden retirement from Test cricket has sparked widespread discussion in sporting circles. The announcement came just hours after reports emerged that Rohit Sharma might be relieved of his role as Test captain for the upcoming tour of England. Having already stepped away from T20 internationals, Rohit Sharma is now set to continue solely in the One Day International (ODI) format.

Former Indian captain and cricketing legend Kapil Dev responded to these developments, offering high praise for Rohit Sharma’s contributions to Indian cricket. “As a player and as a captain, Rohit Sharma has led the team brilliantly. He played excellent cricket. His leadership style and the manner in which he played the game are commendable. Only a few players in Indian cricket history have displayed such a playing style,” said Kapil Dev.

Kapil Dev expressed the view that finding a suitable replacement for Rohit Sharma in the long format of the game will not be easy. “My congratulations to Rohit on a remarkable career,” he stated.

Kapil Dev also weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding whether Rohit Sharma will participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup. His comments came in light of recent remarks by Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad, who suggested that the 'Hitman' would retire from international cricket after the 2027 World Cup.

“Every player wishes to play for as long as possible. Great players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar also aspired to do the same. However, team selection is the prerogative of the selectors. Rohit may wish to continue playing. Everyone dreams of playing in and winning a World Cup. But some decisions must be left to the discretion of the selectors,” Kapil Dev clarified.