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India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
With Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli, Have We Seen The Last Of Stars? As They Fade So Does An Era
The cricketing world witnessed a deeply emotional moment in May 2025 when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from Test cricket. They have already retired from T20Is and now retiring from Test format marked the end of an extraordinary chapter in Indian cricket history. Fans, experts, and fellow players alike grappled with the realization that two of India's greatest had finally hung up their boots. After having witnessed the future, the clip of Sunil Gavaskar predicting India's future in 2012 Asia Cup feels the perfect teaser to their moviesque careers. While Chasing a mammoth score of 330 against India's arch rivals Pakistan, during a match of Asia Cup 2012, a 25-year-old Mumbai prodigy and a 24-year-old promising batter from Delhi were batting together. One of India's greatest Cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar predicted on the commentary -'I think we have glimpsed the future, the future of Indian batting, Rahul Dravid has just called it a day, You don't know how long will Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman are gonna be around, But I think that is the glimpse of India's batting future'. The two cricketers were Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, just as Gavaskar predicted both went on to score record breaking runs for the country bringing glory to the nation with their impeccable performances across the globe. The two colossal figures had a different journey but what followed was nothing short of greatness. Rohit Sharma announced his arrival in International cricket in the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007 helping India win the trophy with his valuable contributions, including a quick 30 knock in the final against Pakistan that turned out to be the difference. Virat Kohli on the other hand was fast-tracked in the team after winning the 2008 U-19 World Cup under his captaincy. Virat later was a key part of India's 2011 World Cup win. Both players grew into being loved figures in Indian cricket, setting numerous records and winning multiple ICC trophies between them. Rohit has Three double centuries in ODIs and Five T20 International Centuries to his name. and holds the record for the highest individual score in ODI (264). Kohli dominated all three formats with consistency and passion, becoming the face of Indian cricket for over a decade. Rohit has 49 international centuries while Virat has 82 centuries, just second to Sachin Tendulkar's hundred hundreds. Together, they have contributed to four ICC trophies for India: Rohit with the 2007 T20 World Cup, Kohli with the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the duo jointly with the 2013 and 2025 Champions Trophies and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Their rivalry and camaraderie created one of the most compelling chapters in modern cricket, attracting millions of fans and generating fierce but affectionate debates between their supporters. Amidst the social media nation fighting between Rohitians and Viratians, the two greats decided to retire from both the formats together, first from the shortest format of the game during the T20 World Cup in June 2024 and then in May 2025 from the whites. While their departure will undoubtedly leave an irreplaceable void, The question that lies with India is, Will we ever be going to replace The King and The Hitman? The Show Must Go On Can Be Replaced From Game, But Never From Hearts The Future of Indian Cricket: Searching for Successors Balancing Legacy with Reality The Indian cricket team now stands at a crossroads. The game demands not only talent but also leaders who can inspire a fragmented fanbase and navigate the commercial complexities of modern cricket. Whether the current crop of players can rise to that challenge remains to be seen. As Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bow out, the nation celebrates their monumental contributions while anxiously awaiting the emergence of the next generation who will carry forward the legacy. The journey continues, but the era of RO-KO will remain unforgettable. Imperfectly Perfect Both Rohit and Virat had their flaws like Rohit's recurring fitness issues and questions over his agility in the field were talking points throughout his career. He even missed some key SENA tours because of it while Kohli, supremely fit, was at times criticized for being overly aggressive, both on and off the field, with captaincy decisions that didn't always pay off. His abrupt removal from ODI captaincy also exposed cracks in team management dynamics during his later years. But perhaps it's those very imperfections that made their success so relatable. They were never robotic, they were passionate, vulnerable, and always human. Their battles with form, their bounce-backs, and the emotional transparency they displayed only deepened the connection with fans. Personality Poles Apart The two just like their cities have been poles apart but Just like how an India needs both a bit of Delhi's aggressiveness and Stature, it also needs a Serene and Calm Mumbai. Just as India draws strength from both Delhi's boldness and Mumbai's quiet resilience, Indian cricket has flourished because of both, the aggression and grandeur of a Delhi-born Kohli, and the calm, relatable grace of a Mumbaikar like Rohit, steady like the city's local trains.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
I wanted to replicate what Sundar did for the national team: Sai Sudharsan
B Sai Sudharsan, the elegant left-hander from Tamil Nadu, is set to achieve a long-cherished dream when he makes his Test debut for India in the upcoming series against England at Leeds on June 20. As he prepares for this milestone moment, Sudharsan credits a large part of his motivation and ambition to fellow Chennai cricketer Washington Sundar, whose rapid rise from age-group cricket to the senior Indian team left a lasting impression on him. Watching someone from his own city succeed at the international level gave Sudharsan the belief that he, too, could follow the same path with enough dedication and hard work. Washington's rise sparked belief in Chennai cricket circles Back in 2016, Washington Sundar represented India in the U-19 World Cup primarily as a batter. Within a year and a half, he was playing international cricket as a teenager. His Test debut in 2021, during the iconic Border-Gavaskar series, and his match-winning performances at just 20 years of age served as a turning point in Sudharsan's mindset. The left-hander, who is two years younger than Sundar, recalled watching his senior's rapid ascent and feeling deeply inspired. Sudharsan said he had played against Washington in age-group matches and admired the pace at which he moved up the ladder. Seeing someone he had shared the field with wear the India jersey sparked a strong desire to walk the same road. Motivation born from familiarity and friendship The fact that both cricketers hail from Chennai only deepened the connection. According to Sudharsan, knowing Washington personally and observing his journey up close made the goal of representing India seem tangible. He often visualised himself replicating that journey, striving to emulate the same path to the top. Sundar impressed by Sudharsan's growth Washington, now an experienced international with nine Tests, 23 ODIs and 54 T20Is under his belt, acknowledged that Sudharsan's steady rise had become a talking point in Chennai's cricketing circles. He revealed that coaches and peers often spoke about Sudharsan's consistent improvement, and he himself saw plenty to admire in the youngster's technique and work ethic. Sundar noted that every time he watched Sudharsan on television, it was clear the youngster's game had evolved. His dedication and discipline, Sundar said, served as inspiration not just for him but also for many upcoming cricketers in the region. Chennai's cricketing legacy finds new light As India's next generation takes shape, the camaraderie between Washington Sundar and B Sai Sudharsan highlights a new chapter in Tamil Nadu cricket. For Sudharsan, the journey that began with watching Sundar make it to the national team is now coming full circle—with his own debut just days away.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Markram sets the marker for a South Africa cricket legend
Mumbai: Some narratives are hard to beat. It was said in commentary that South Africa had never won an ICC trophy. Until another expert corrected and said, 'well, they did win the 1998 Champions Trophy, when it was known by another name'. Aiden Markram was immersed in the middle at Lord's, else he might have wanted to scream out loud, what about the 2014 U-19 World Cup he led South Africa to a title win in? But then, Markram is not that sort. All through his 207-ball, 383-minute stay at the crease, in which he denied the greatest Test bowling attack there is, to help South Africa get over the line against Australia to the World Test Championship title, he never allowed himself to break into a smile. Lest his focus waver, resolve soften. Not when he got to his eighth Test hundred late on Day 3, not when the Player-of-the-Match was finally dismissed on 136, even though by then his team was within touching distance of history. Markram had walked in as opener in pursuit of a 282-run fourth innings run chase. When he was finally done and walked back through the Lord's Long Room up to the storied balcony, the standing ovation, the unending applause, he received was in appreciation of the greatest knock by a South African batter. 'Un-frickin-believable,' was teammate Marco Jansen's description of Markram's epic while talking to former Proteas skipper Graeme Smith, doing TV duties. Compared to Smith, South Africa's third-highest run scorer, Markram is a lesser figure. Or to Hashim Amla, who scored more runs than Smith, or Jacques Kallis, who safely tops the chart. But none of those greats could fashion a masterpiece like Markram to exorcise the ghosts of the past. Test hundreds should not be compared to white-ball brilliance; the fabric of the two is entirely different. But the burden of the past weighed so heavily on South Africa, with their repeated losses in knockout matches at world events – two quarter-finals, 12 semi-finals, and the 2024 T20 World Cup final – that this knock had to circumvent challenges that went way beyond the usual vagaries of the pitch in a fourth innings run chase. Markram was among the crestfallen South African 15 who lost to India in the T20 final in Barbados last year. Markram, 30, never flinched when Pat Cummins was probing with the new ball. He took Mitchell Starc on. He had the answers to Josh Hazlewood's nagging lengths. To Nathan Lyon, he played mostly off the backfoot, adroitly, so that the attempted spinning off-breaks from the rough would not run through the gate. Externally, stoic all the way through, the right-hander, in attack and defence, held such a sway over proceedings that even Australia could not penetrate. For eight years, Markram's chequered career was of unfulfilled promise. A great batting hope from his U-19 days who had all the strokes in the book, he had never found the purple patch a great career must experience. If ever he needed an uplift, he has got one with the most defining innings of his career. Markram could not have done it alone. It was his 147-run third wicket partnership with skipper Temba Bavuma that took South Africa past Australia. Markram and Bavuma have been interchanged as captain across formats by the selectors, but the two have plenty of mutual respect. It was Markram who convinced Bavuma, hobbling due to a hamstring injury, to battle pain and continue batting in the post tea session on Day 3, according to head coach Shukri Conrad. 'A lot of it came from him (Bavuma), he has always led from the front, found ways to score runs and these sorts of knocks are something people will remember you for,' Markram said about Bavuma's 66. 'Markram was unbelievable,' Bavuma said in admiration of Markram. 'Stats are important, but character is what we look at and Aiden has that.' On his own innings, Markram agreed he 'hadn't scored more important runs'. Absolutely, no one in the rainbow nation would disagree.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Markram's match-winning ton earns him place in South African sporting folklore
Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 South Africa's Aiden Markram lifts the ICC Test Championship Mace on the podium with teammates after winning the final Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 South Africa's Aiden Markram raises his bat to acknowledge the crowd and walks back to the Lord's Pavilion after losing his wicket, caught out by Australia's Travis Head off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS LONDON - South Africa's batting hero Aiden Markram has taken longer than expected to deliver on his promise, but a match-winning century against Australia in the World Test Championship final is being hailed as the biggest in the country's cricketing history. The 30-year-old captained South Africa to success at the U-19 World Cup a decade ago but his senior career had only seen occasional glimpses of immense potential. However, his 136 for South Africa in the second innings at Lord's took the country to their first major cricketing triumph after decades of failure and ensured Markram a place in South African sporting folklore. Markram made his test debut at age 22, heartbreakingly run out on 97, and has since scored eight centuries and 13 fifties. But his average of 36.50 has been below expectation. He came into the WTC final without a century in his last 16 test knocks and failed to get on the board in the first innings. But when Markram returned to the crease on Friday, it was with an air of authority, albeit playing with circumspection and making the use of the sudden change in conditions after two days of dominance by the bowlers. 'I haven't scored more important runs. It's weird how things worked out after a duck in the first innings. You need a bit of luck, spending time in the middle and finding runs. I'm glad things worked out,' he told reporters as South Africa celebrated on Saturday. His plan in the second innings was to absorb the pressure but maximise scoring off loose balls, he added. There was also an early crisis to navigate when captain Temba Bavuma struggled with a hamstring strain as the pair began to put together what turned out to be a match-winning partnership. But Markram insisted Bavuma stay on despite it slowing down the accumulation of runs. 'Aiden is unbelievable, people have questioned his place, but he has character. He played in true Aiden fashion,' said Bavuma, whose 66-run contribution was also a factor. Markram looked to be in tears after reaching three figures late on Friday. 'Lord's is the place every test cricketer wants to play,' he explained. 'To play a final here is incredibly special. It's one of the most special days.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cricket-Markram's match-winning ton earns him place in South African sporting folklore
Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - South Africa v Australia - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 14, 2025 South Africa's Aiden Markram raises his bat to acknowledge the crowd and walks back to the Lord's Pavilion after losing his wicket, caught out by Australia's Travis Head off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers LONDON (Reuters) -South Africa's batting hero Aiden Markram has taken longer than expected to deliver on his promise, but a match-winning century against Australia in the World Test Championship final is being hailed as the biggest in the country's cricketing history. The 30-year-old captained South Africa to success at the U-19 World Cup a decade ago but his senior career had only seen occasional glimpses of immense potential. However, his 136 for South Africa in the second innings at Lord's took the country to their first major cricketing triumph after decades of failure and ensured Markram a place in South African sporting folklore. Markram made his test debut at age 22, heartbreakingly run out on 97, and has since scored eight centuries and 13 fifties. But his average of 36.50 has been below expectation. He came into the WTC final without a century in his last 16 test knocks and failed to get on the board in the first innings. But when Markram returned to the crease on Friday, it was with an air of authority, albeit playing with circumspection and making the use of the sudden change in conditions after two days of dominance by the bowlers. 'I haven't scored more important runs. It's weird how things worked out after a duck in the first innings. You need a bit of luck, spending time in the middle and finding runs. I'm glad things worked out,' he told reporters as South Africa celebrated on Saturday. His plan in the second innings was to absorb the pressure but maximise scoring off loose balls, he added. There was also an early crisis to navigate when captain Temba Bavuma struggled with a hamstring strain as the pair began to put together what turned out to be a match-winning partnership. But Markram insisted Bavuma stay on despite it slowing down the accumulation of runs. 'Aiden is unbelievable, people have questioned his place, but he has character. He played in true Aiden fashion,' said Bavuma, whose 66-run contribution was also a factor. Markram looked to be in tears after reaching three figures late on Friday. 'Lord's is the place every test cricketer wants to play,' he explained. 'To play a final here is incredibly special. It's one of the most special days.' (Reporting and writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
