Did BCCI Try To Stop Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli From Retiring? Ajit Agarkar Says, "New WTC Cycle..."

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar on Saturday conceded that the void left by the Test retirement of premier cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is tough to fill, but hoped that other players will step up during the upcoming tour of England. Rohit was the first to announce retirement from Test cricket on May 7, while his long-time teammate Kohli followed suit on May 12. "When guys like that retire, they are stalwarts of cricket...it is always difficult, (their) shoes are very big to fill. But one way of looking at it is, that it's an opportunity for others," Agarkar told the media after announcing India's 18-member squad for the five-Test series starting June 20.

Young left-hander Sai Sudharsan and the seasoned Karun Nair have been brought in to replace the two superstars.

Agarkar revealed that Kohli had reached out to him last month, possibly after the Champions Trophy, expressing his desire to quit Test cricket.

"Virat reached out (to the BCCI/selection committee) in early April, and he felt he had given everything he could. If he felt he could not be up to the standards that he has set, you have got to respect that. Needless to say, Rohit has been leading the team as well," Agarkar added.

"They've left a legacy behind. Obviously, I've had conversations with both of them over the last couple of months. We've seen him (Kohli) give 200 per cent every ball that he plays. Even when he's not batting or he's on the field.

"He probably felt that he had given everything that he had and if you can't keep up to the standards that he set himself over the years and how good he's been and maybe it was time for him."

There have been intense speculations surrounding the future of both Kohli and Rohit in the traditional format