Gautam Gambhir opens up on challenges for India following Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirement

Former India opener and the current head coach Gautam Gambhir opened up on the challenges ahead for the team following the retirement of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Test cricket. Gambhir regarded the decision of the individuals to retire as a personal one and felt that no one other than the players themselves had any right to question their decision to stop playing.

He agreed that the exit of experienced players creates a void and could be difficult to fill. However, the Indian Head Coach believed that the new players would have a great opportunity to step up and make a spot in the longest format of the game their own.

"I think, when you start the game and when you want to finish, it’s a very individual decision. No one has the right. Be it the coach, the selector, be it anyone in this country has any right to tell someone when to retire and when not to retire. So it comes from within," said Gautam Gambhir in the interview with CNN News 24.

"We’ve got to be without two senior players to really experience players. And sometimes I believe that it’s the opportunity for some other people to put their hand up and say, Okay, I’m ready for it. So yes, it will be tough, but then there’ll be people putting their hand up for sure because this question was asked to me before. Champions Trophy as well," the Indian coach added.

Gambhir expects other players to step up in Bumrah’s absence

Furthermore, Gautam Gambhir also pointed out how the team saw Jasprit Bumrah's absence in the Champions Trophy 2025 as an opportunity for others to step up. Besides, the Indian head coach also hoped to see batters rise to the challenge in the Indian Test team.

"When Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t there and I said exactly the same thing, someone missing out might give another person an opportunity to do something special for the country, hopefully, there’ll be other guys waiting for that opportunity," Gambhir concluded.