Paras Mhambrey says Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might have lacked motivation to play Test cricket

Former Indian bowling coach Paras Mhambrey believes the veteran duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli might have lacked motivation to play Test cricket. While Rohit announced his Test retirement on May 7, Kohli called it a day on May 12, sending shocking waves in the cricketing world.

Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. In the last 69 Test innings since 2020, Kohli had managed only 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, including just three centuries.

On the other hand, Rohit played 67 Tests during an 11-year career, leading in 24 of them since taking over the reins of the team from Virat Kohli in 2022. He ends his career with a total of 4301 runs, including 12 centuries. Rohit was also struggling to score runs consistently and had managed only 31 runs in three Test matches against Australia.

Paras Mhambrey said in an interview with Hindustan Times, “Virat didn’t have five years of test cricket left in him. You knew that, right? Their individual battles that they fought, they must have realised that it was time. They always say how valuable they could be in their contribution. And sometimes, it’s the motivation bit. Maybe they were not as motivated to play that format.”

“They’ll not be able to give their best to that format. And that’s the way they approach. So very selfless approach, both of them. Sometimes you are not in the frame of mind to go through the grind. If I’m not there 100%, I would rather just be honest and say that, I’m good in one format. Let me focus on the other format, which I can be more useful for the team.”

Mhambrey, who is now Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach, said it is sad and unfortunate that Rohit and Kohli decided to retire one after the other.

“It’s sad and unfortunate that both have quit in a very, very close duration. Sometimes it happens that one of the greats retires and then the other is around with the younger guys to come in and grow, kind of thing. But, yeah, that’s the reality of this format,” said Mhambrey (via the aforementioned source).

India will begin a new chapter in the Test format with a five-match series against England after Kohli and Rohit’s retirement.