Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s T20I Retirement: Kapil Dev on Fitness

Virat (35) and Rohit (37) have been mainstays of Indian batting across all formats for more than a decade, however, they both announced their retirements from T20I cricket after leading the country to ICC T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.

Ever since they retired from T20Is, fans have been wondering if they are considering retirement from other formats as well, considering their growing age.

Kapil Dev, during an interview with an Indian sports website, opined that the age between 26 and 34 is the prime time for any cricketer, and to sustain in modern-day cricket beyond these ages, a player must maintain peak fitness.

“In my opinion, the period between 26 and 34 years is your prime and thereafter the fitness of the players will ensure their longevity,” Kapil remarked.

He further stated that every player is built differently and it’s the individual’s own decision, when to retire, citing the examples of Ravi Shastri and Sachin Tendulkar.

“Ravi Shastri retired at a very early age while Sachin Tendulkar had a longer stint, so it is completely up to the individual to decide their way of life,” he added.

Kapil Dev reiterated that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should play as long as their fitness allows.

“My way of thinking is to stay fit and keep playing as long as you are enjoying the game,” he concluded.