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As the end of an era approaches in Indian cricket with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli nearing retirement, former batting coach Sanjay Bangar remains optimistic about their longevity. On the Rao Podcast, Bangar suggested that they could continue playing for several years, drawing parallels with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who also extended their careers into 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.”
The partnership between Delhi’s elegant Virat Kohli and Mumbai’s aggressive Rohit Sharma was a dominant force in world cricket for years, with Kohli’s stylish cover drives and Sharma’s powerful pull shots creating a formidable combination.
However, earlier this year, both players announced their retirement from international T20s following India’s triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite this, Sanjay Bangar remains confident that Kohli will continue to contribute significantly to the national team, particularly in Test cricket, where his expertise and leadership are still invaluable.
“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.
What might inspire the duo to persist? According to Bangar, it’s the modern formats of the game. He explained that the regular occurrence of ICC tournaments offers ongoing objectives for players.
Additionally, even without these tournaments, Kohli and Sharma have another significant goal: clinching the World Test Championship with India.
“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.”
