Yuvraj Singh Backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Retirement Autonomy

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on the horizon, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has weighed in on the futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, emphasizing their prerogative to retire from the sport on their own terms.

As the countdown to the T20 World Cup narrows to 36 days, Yuvraj Singh has underscored the significance of having Rohit and Kohli in India’s squad for the tournament while acknowledging their longstanding contributions to Indian cricket.

Reflecting on the duo’s pivotal roles, Yuvraj stressed that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, given their illustrious careers, have earned the right to make decisions about their future in cricket. Both players are widely expected to feature prominently in India’s T20 World Cup squad, having returned to T20I action earlier this year after a hiatus.

While affirming the duo’s autonomy in determining their cricketing journey, Yuvraj expressed his personal preference for Rohit and Kohli to conclude their T20I careers following the culmination of the upcoming World Cup. He proposed that the veteran cricketers redirect their focus to other formats, allowing space for emerging talent to thrive in T20 cricket.

Amid debates surrounding the inclusion of experienced players in the T20 setup, Yuvraj advocates for a transitional phase, urging India to groom a younger generation of players for future tournaments. He believes that post the T20 World Cup, it’s imperative for India to rejuvenate the T20 squad, fostering a blend of youth and experience to sustain success in the format.

“As you get older people start talking about your age and they forget about your form. These guys have been great players for India and they deserve to go (retire) when they want,” Yuvraj remarked, stressing the significance of honoring the contributions of senior players.

Yuvraj’s sentiments align with a broader vision for Indian cricket, one that prioritizes succession planning and nurturing young talent. With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, India’s focus shifts to assembling a competitive squad for the tournament opener against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.