I told Rohit Sharma to get up at 5 AM and run for 20 km to keep himself fit: Yograj Singh

Former India fast bowler Yograj Singh said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could have continued playing Test cricket for another five years. While Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, Kohli followed suit on May 12.

After the two legendary cricketers bid farewell to the sport's longest format, Shubman Gill was announced as the captain of the side. The 25-year-old became the fifth-youngest Test captain for India, and he will start his tenure during the challenging five-match series against England, commencing on Friday, June 20.

Yograj opined that Rohit and Kohli should have waited for the baton to be passed to Shubman. The father of the legendary India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also revealed that he had offered Rohit a suggestion to wake up at 5 AM and run 20 kilometres to keep himself fit.

"Virat and Rohit shouldn’t have retired from Tests. I told Rohit to get up at 5 AM and run for 20 km to keep himself fit. Virat and Rohit can still play for another 5 years in Test cricket. They should have played. They should be there to see that the baton is passed to the youngsters. The baton has not been passed, it has been thrown to Gill," Yograj said while speaking to Insidesport.

Yograj's big India Captain wish for Yuvraj Singh

Furthermore, Yograj Singh also said that he had tried to persuade his son not to take retirement from international cricket in 2019, promising to help him become the captain of the Indian team.

"Even when Yuvraj was retiring, I promised him that I will help him become India captain and that we will throw everybody out, but he quit," Yograj said.

Meanwhile, a relatively inexperienced Indian team is set to face England in a five-match Test series. The first Test gets underway at Headingley, Leeds. While Shubman was named as India's 37th Test captain, flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was designated as his deputy. They will have to work in tandem and guide the youngsters around them so that they can play to their potential in the United Kingdom.