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 the same way as they did a decade ago.
After a humiliating defeat in the Test series, India were supported by two of their legends, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as they turned to ODIs, the only format in which both the legends continue to represent India.
In the first ODI in Ranchi, Virat Kohli completed his 52nd ODI century and Rohit Sharma also supported him and scored a half-century and there was a partnership of 136 runs between the two. In the second match also, Kohli performed brilliantly and raised the level of the team by scoring two consecutive centuries.
This is their decision, not anyone else’s: Madan Lal
Seeing the excellent form of 37-year-old Virat Kohli and the determination of 38-year-old Rohit Sharma, no Indian fan would want him to retire just now. Former Indian selector Madan Lal is one of the countless Indians who have made the same appeal to the BCCI.
The former World Cup winner has warned the current selection committee and the Indian team management not to put pressure on either of the two great players to retire from international cricket.
He also stressed on the fact that both of them are widely experienced cricketers and they should be given the freedom to decide when to step down.
“It’s their decision, not anyone else’s. So (it should be) whatever they decide,” Lal told PTI Video on the sidelines of the Asian Legends League Season 2.
“They look like they’re about 28 or 30 years old.”
The BCCI has been constantly concerned about his fitness, longevity and most importantly, lack of game time. Even earlier this week, a report suggested that the decision-makers were waiting for a possible omission from one of these players to justify their removal from the team.
He further added that while he decided to commit himself to playing just one format, he has shown more determination to prove himself in the middle every time.
“But the way they are playing the ODI series shows that they are still very fresh and look like they are around 28 or 30 years old.
He said, “The way Virat Kohli is running (between the wickets) taking singles and hitting the balls. It is good to see (the way he is going).”
Madan Lal supports Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar:
The former coach and selector expressed sympathy towards Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, who have been under fire since India’s whitewash in the home Test series against South Africa.
He said, “The first person to be criticized is the coach and the selector; I have been both, so they will get criticism, no problem. As long as your conscience is right, that’s what matters.”
He concluded, “If the team is not performing well, then it becomes a case of (critics) going after the selectors. But if the team is not performing well, it is also a calculative thing that your coach is as good as your team.”
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