The focus shifts firmly to the five-Test series between India and England following the shock retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the longest format of the game. Without both former captains and batting stalwarts, all eyes will be on a young squad, a new captain and the Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff as India look to win their first Test series on English soil since 2007. Former India cricketer Deep Dasgputa, in an exclusive interview with RevSportz, reflected on both the retirements and how they would affect India in England.
Excerpts:
What was your initial reaction to both the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli?
Deep Dasgupta: Well, I was expecting something like this to happen over a period of time. Because, I have said this on air as well. I think the Indian Test team is going through a transition period. This was during the BGT, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. So, I was expecting something like this to happen in the next year or two. But, in just 48 hours, Rohit and then Virat. Yeah, it is a surprise. On one hand, there is emptiness. And then, it is nothing new. Every 10-12 years, you feel that. When I was young, when Mr Sunil Gavaskar, when Sunny sir retired, Kapil Dev retired. You felt that you won’t watch cricket anymore. Then it happened with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble. So, every 12-14-15 years, we go through this. So, a little bit of surprise, a little bit of shock. A little bit of sadness.
What would you say about Virat’s legacy in Tests?
Dasgupta: Virat Kohli’s legacy, according to me, is way beyond numbers. All great people, all great players. If you just judge him based on numbers, you will say, yeah, he was a very good cricketer. But, he didn’t score 10,000 runs. You know what I am saying? If you just look at numbers, it will be very unfair to judge someone like Virat Kohli and his legacy. Because, his contribution, his impact has been way, way beyond numbers. Whether it is his captaincy, emphasis on Test cricket. In this era, when everyone wants to play T20 cricket. So, if you look at it all together. And also, a very important thing is revolutionising how we play away from home. The setup that we had for the longest time. If you talk about Indian bowling, you say spinner. If we want to win in or out of India, we will make 400 runs and then our spinners will take wickets. But, after 2015, I think it’s been a revolution in how we plan cricket away from home. Especially in SENA countries. There, the emphasis on fast bowling. After that, there were fast bowlers one after the other. But, the emphasis on them. At that time, if you look at Umesh [Yadav], Ishant [Sharma] and then [Jasprit] Bumrah. So, a lot of those things kind of added up. So, if we talk about their impact, you can’t base that on just numbers.
770 runs short of 10,000 Test runs…
Dasgupta: See, that’s what I’m saying. If you get into numbers, then a lot will come. Something is right, something is not. Something is out of context. For that, it is important to figure out things. Going a little deeper. It will be lazy to just talk about numbers. Anyone, if you go according to numbers and if you analyse according to numbers, it is just being lazy.
After winning the Champions Trophy, Rohit’s’ retirement also took many by surprise…
Dasgupta: I won’t say that it was not at all [a surprise]. But obviously, you knew that something was happening. And obviously, what is also important. Earlier, there was nothing like a cycle. But now you have a cycle of WTC. And one cycle ends and the other starts. So it gives you a starting point. If you want to start something, if you want to do something new. If you want to do something different. But actually, when it happens, it is still a bit of a shock. Even though you are expecting it. So yes, it was. You know that maybe it will happen. But when it actually happens, you are like: ‘really!’ So I guess, whether it is Rohit or Virat.
How important is the England tour? To prove a point that you know, without these two stalwarts, we can move forward in Indian cricket especially on a tough tour like England?
Dasgupta: See, to be honest, this is not a new thing. And we are very lucky that way. With Indian cricket. The structure is so good. Very big players have come before this. Retired. And in every generation, we have managed to produce very good players. There is no doubt the next generation is very talented. We will again find someone. I still remember when Sunny sir took retirement. I thought nothing is going to happen now. Sachin came in. Now, Virat is retiring. Why watch cricket now? I had the same feeling when Sunny sir retired. I won’t watch cricket now. But then again, there comes somebody who will force you to sit in front of the TV. I am sure the next generation, they are extremely talented, and they will do it. Whether in this series or in the next series. I think it will be unfair to put a marker on it, be it the England series or West Indies. But they will come good. There is no doubt. We have that much talent.
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Who do you think will replace Virat and Rohit as not only the match-winners but someone who attracts the brands, money, sponsorship, packed crowds?
Dasgupta: Obviously, we have seen some. For example, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer to a certain extent. We have not seen all of them like Sai Sudharsan. Even someone like Rajat Patidar. We have seen very few. So obviously, there will always be someone. But if you have to name a few, Rishabh and Shubman.
How would you remember Rohit and Virat in Tests?
Dasgupta: Listen, with Rohit, what I still remember is the first time in 2002 in Bangalore. We were playing India A and Under-19. That was the first time I met Rohit. And when I still meet him, it’s the same guy. That simplicity. All that after having achieved so much. Still to be the same, the way he thinks, the way he speaks. It’s always refreshing. We’ve had a few discussions, but you always felt it’s the same guy over the years.
With Virat, I think the way he has changed. The first time I saw him was a very different Virat. He was abrasive yet very talented. But then after 2012-13, disciplined, professional, superb role model, hardworking. And the way he’s changed over the years, his impact over cricket has been immense. If we judge them based on numbers, it will be very unfair, and unfortunate. Their contribution is way more than what the numbers would suggest.
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Can India, without Virat and Rohit, push their case in England?
Dasgupta: Definitely, India will push. If you say advantage, obviously the home team. India, with their full team or new team or old team, doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, home team has that advantage. But yes, because of the inexperience, to a certain level. Who are the bowlers available, their fitness levels and everything else? But yeah. Can India push? Obviously, yes. But it won’t be a walk in the park. It won’t be easy for England. And obviously, new team, less baggage, a lot to prove. With that mindset, Indian team will go there as underdogs. So they have a lot of things to prove, almost everything to gain. If we talk about England, home team, more established side. More settled side to a certain extent. So pressure will definitely be on the home team. While India, in England, will have nothing to lose. India have lost two of their stalwarts.