Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said one needs to celebrate the limited time that we have of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in international cricket. The 39-year-old’s statement comes at a time when there is constant speculation about whether both former captains would have the legs to continue till the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Kohli made 135 off 120 balls in the first ODI, while Sharma made 57 off 51 balls to help India reach 349/8 in 50 overs, which proved enough in the end to help the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series.
“I will say one thing – how much time we have to watch and enjoy Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat, please let’s do it because once they are done, we could hear talks like ‘oh, what a player he was! Please bring him back’. That doesn’t cut ice for me. For however long they play, let us celebrate them as long as they are playing. As I said, life moves on very fast. Time does not wait for anyone. It is very important that we realise that the time is less. So it is better that we enjoy whatever they are doing,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat”.
One of the rumours circulating in the cricket circuit was about the possible return of Kohli to playing Test cricket again. The 37-year-old was asked the question in the post-match press conference and made it clear he had no such intentions.
Ashwin said that when Kohli would have taken that decision to retire after putting in a lot of thought and it was unfair to time and again question the decision.
“What is there to think? Whatever decision we take, it is well thought out. I am sure that when a player like Kohli decided to retire from Tests, he was very clear. Nobody makes instinctive decisions. We have all crossed that road. As audiences, as fans, we all want to see Virat Kohli.”
“The way he batted yesterday, fans are going to think. But Test cricket is a different kettle of fish, and he has made a decision regarding that. Let us make one thing very clear. Whatever decision he has made, he has taken it. To keep going back to that is not the right thing to do. A lot of players have come in, and the team has entered a transition as well. It is about moving forward,” he said.
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