Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Indian Test cricket has entered a new era as three of its modern-day greats — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin — have all stepped away from the longest format of the game. While fans continue to process the emotional exits, Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour, who is also the former batting coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, shared heartfelt thoughts on the matter. “Retirement is a very personal decision,” Rathour said. “I would have loved to see all three of them continue playing. They were phenomenal cricketers and still had so much to offer. But if they’ve taken this call, we must respect that.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The comments come at a time when India is undergoing a major transition in red-ball cricket, preparing to move into a new World Test Championship cycle without some of its most experienced pillars.Recently, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, echoed similar sentiments. He acknowledged the reality of the game, saying, “Even someone like Sachin Tendulkar had to retire one day.” Ashwin praised Kohli’s aggression and energy and Rohit’s calm and composed style. “What Kohli achieved, Rohit could have too — if not for that ankle injury early in his career,” he added, referencing a missed Test debut that changed Rohit’s trajectory.

As fans reel from these back-to-back announcements, India’s bench strength is now under the spotlight.Meanwhile, in the IPL, a young star is already making waves. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, just 14, top-scored with a brilliant 57 as Rajasthan Royals ended their season on a high, beating CSK by six wickets. Despite individual efforts from CSK batters like Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, the loss could see MS Dhoni’s men finish last for the first time in IPL history.