As time passes, we inevitably near the end of an era in Indian cricket with legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli inching towards retirement. But, former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes that there is more time than one thinks for the occasion to arrive.
Bangar, on the Rao Podcast, went on to talk about his belief in the likes of Rohit Sharma to continue playing for a good while longer in this modern age, stating the examples of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid who also played till their 40s.
“I think Rohit will continue to play as long as his body and fitness allow him to,” stated Bangar in the Rao Podcast.
“Sachin played till 40, and even Rahil played till 40. With better fitness standards and more professionals looking after players, including nutritionists, careers are going to get longer.”
Every elegant cover drive from the Delhi-born Kohli was accompanied with boistrous pull shot from Mumbaikar Rohit Sharma as the duo wreaked havoc upon world cricket for years on end.
But then, earlier this year, both Kohli and Rohit had announced their international retirement from the shorter format of the game following India’s title win at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Bangar though still remains of the belief that Kohli will still be looking to provide all he can for the national side in the longer formats, especially Test cricket.
“Even with Virat, it depends on his body. The last format that he would give away will be Test cricket. So, I am sure that you will see Virat playing Test cricket for another five years,” Bangar said.
But what exactly would motivate or entice the two to keep going? Well, the new-age formats of the game, says Bangar.
The former batting coach expounded on how the frequency of ICC tournaments in this day and age consistently provides goals for players to achieve and work towards. And even it it weren’t for the same, the two have one more goal to achieve with India: winning the World Test Championship.
“In today’s time and age, the World Cup is happening every second year or every year you have an ICC tournament. I don’t think that would have been a factor. India winning the World Cup doesn’t mean that Rohit is going to walk away.”
“Rohit has tasted success now, and India still wants to win the World Test Championship — there is something to look forward to.”
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