Kapil Dev Drops a Bombshell: Shares Insights on Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli's Retirement Plans

Former legendary Indian batsman and captain Kapil Dev shared his opinion regarding Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli’s appropriate retirement age. 

Virat (35) and Rohit (37) have been the pillars of Indian batting across all formats for more than a decade, however, they both retired from T20I cricket after leading the country to ICC T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.

Ever since Kohli and Sharma announced their retirement from the Twenty20 format, fans have been wondering if they are also considering retiring from other formats of the game. Another reason behind fans’ growing curiosity is both players’ increasing age. 

In an interview with an Indian sports website, Kapil Dev mentioned that the prime years for any cricketer fall between the ages of 26 and 34. He emphasized that to extend their career in modern-day cricket beyond this age range, players must maintain exceptional fitness levels.

“In my opinion, the period between 26 and 34 years is your prime and thereafter the fitness of the players will ensure their longevity,” Kapil remarked.

He added that every player’s journey is different and it’s the individual’s own decision when to retire. To support his statement, he cited the examples of Ravi Shastri and Sachin Tendulkar. 

“Ravi Shastri retired at a very early age while Sachin Tendulkar had a longer stint, so it is completely up to the individual to decide their way of life,” he added.

Kapil Dev stated that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play for as long as their health permits.

“My way of thinking is to stay fit and keep playing as long as you are enjoying the game,” he concluded.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma made his international cricket debut 17 years ago. Since then he has consistently performed for his team and is the second Indian captain to win a T20 World Cup. 

On the other hand, Virat Kohli debuted 16 years ago and his accomplishments are not hidden from anyone. 

Kohli was a significant member of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, and 2024 T20 World Cup. 

He captained India to win the ICC Test mace three consecutive times in 2017, 2018, and 2019.