Kuldeep Yadav is one of those cricketers who benefitted greatly from the leadership and experience of his captains, people who could put their arms around his shoulders and set him down the right path, to make best use of his left-arm leg-spin weapons. With Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli retiring in quick succession, Kuldeep Yadav suddenly finds himself as one of the more experienced members of the Indian squad.
Shubman Gill’s elevation to Test captaincy marks the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket, coming in the wake of Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format. Alongside Rohit Sharma , who had led India since February 2022, fellow stalwarts Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have also bid farewell to Tests since the start of India’s last Test series.
Taking from where Rohit Sharma left following his recent retirement announcement from India’s test cricket, the Men in White will now be led by Shubman Gill. BCCI named the 25-year-old young talent as India’s new Test cricket captain. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been selected as vice-captain for the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement gives BCCI a chance to experiment.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shocked the entire cricketing fraternity by announcing their Test retirements just a few weeks before India travels to England for a five-match Test series. Two stalwarts of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have redefined the game for the new generation, walking away at such a crucial time raises questions and also about the direction in which the national cricket team is heading. Gautam Gambhir will now have to take many important calls that will decide India’s future in World Test Championship 2027.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar are trying to take a road that has never been explored in the history of Indian cricket.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have retired from the Test format and the T20I format, will continue to play ODI cricket. The Indian T20I team looks like a settled unit under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav. Just like the Test team, the T20I team is a good mix of youth and experience.
As far as the ODI team is concerned, Rohit Sharma will continue to lead India, maybe till the 2027 ODI World Cup. Now, all eyes will be on India’s Test setup and the team that they choose to send to England.
However among such shocking reactions was Indian offspinner Kuldeep Yadav’s reaction to the fact that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had retired from Test cricket arena for India. The Indian spinner, who shares a tight bond with Rohit Sharma and made his Test debut during Kohli’s captaincy, reminisced over the former skippers’ leadership skills.
As one of the few players in India’s squad for the tour of England who have visited the country before, Kuldeep Yadav reflected on what it means to see these high-profile players call it a day. Speaking to an Indian Express panel, Kuldeep Yadav explained how he was caught off-guard, as many others, by Rohit and Kohli’s decision.
Kuldeep Yadav shocked with Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli’s retirement
Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav has said that he was shocked by the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The 30-year-old admitted that he did have an inkling about Ravichandran Ashwin calling it a day before it happened. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from the longest format in May, while Ashwin announced his international retirement in December 2024.
“I had an inkling that Ash bhai might retire due to his body. We used to have a lot of chats and once I remember, he put his hand on me and said, ‘You will have to take responsibility in the future. You have to manage’. I used to feel a bit concerned that he doesn’t leave and go,” KuldeepYadav told Indian Express in an interview.
“I was shocked when Rohit bhai and Virat bhai retired. You want your senior players to stay for big series such as this. I have spent a lot of time with Ash bhai, discussing bowling and even field settings; we used to sit and talk. His exit is shocking to me as I was learning a lot from him. He would keep feeding me ideas.I played and learned a lot with Ashwin.”
He also opened up about his relationship with Rohit Sharma, saying that he took care of him like “an elder brother”. He added that the 38-year-old would also scold him sometimes, but those gestures motivated him when things were not going too well. He said:
“I had a great understanding and bond with Rohit bhai. He used to look after me like an elder brother, even off the field. When bowling, he used to tell me clearly what he expected from me and whether I was delivering it or not.”
“If he found that I was lagging somewhere, he used to tell me to put more effort on that aspect. He would clearly tell me the role he expected from me, and sometimes he used to scold me as well — little things that always lifted me in bad times and took great care of me,” Kuldeep Yadav said.
However, as a youngster, Kuldeep Yadav broke through under the guidance of Kohli, and he spoke about his gratitude regarding how Kohli was a mentor for him when he was still developing as a cricketer and a person.
“I made my Test debut under Virat Kohli. He did not play the match (in 2017) but he handed me the cap,” said Kuldeep Yadav.
“At that time, I was raw and not mature, but he handled me wonderfully, gave me the belief that I could be good in this format. He always supported me and I always enjoyed playing with him.”
The duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played in the BGT series, which Australia won 3-1. Team India is gearing up for their five-match Test series on English soil against the inventors of the game, starting on the 24th of June at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium. The Indian side will have to do without the services of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who both called time on their careers in whites, as new skipper Shubman Gill looks to usher in a new era.
Kuldeep Yadav is part of the travelling squad of England after a strong display with Delhi Capitals in the IPL, and will be at the disposal of new captain Shubman Gill should his attacking spin bowling be needed on the five-match Test tour
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