'Did he have the pedigree to play 100 Tests?': Ravichandran Ashwin's big statement on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's sudden Test retirement

India's legendary duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shocked the fans by announcing a sudden red-ball retirement ahead of the upcoming five-Test match series against England, which is scheduled to start from June 20. This was the third big retirement in Indian cricket from the longest format of the game since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.

Earlier, legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin called it a day after the third Test match in Australia. Ashwin who has announced retirement from all formats of international cricket, said that he did not expect Virat and Rohit to retire back-to-back.

Ashwin believes that Rohit could have reached the milestone of 100 Test matches if it wasn’t for the injury he suffered ahead of his intended debut against South Africa in 2008. The legendary spinner seemed more surprised by Kohli's decision to announce retirement as he reckons that the former captain had a couple more years of red-ball cricket left in him.

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“I retired in Australia, and I did not expect these two to retire back-to-back. Did Rohit (Sharma) have the pedigree to play 100 Tests? He must have. I believe that the time he missed, those 4–5 years before his debut due to that injury, he was unable to play those extra 30–40 Test matches," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“A small question arises in my mind regarding Kohli's decision. Maybe he had one or two more years left in him? Are his energy levels a reason for that? Maybe he must be thinking that he does not have the mental capacity anymore. Even when not playing personally, his energy at mid-wicket or short cover is there in the team," the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer added.

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Rohit, Virat and Ashwin played the last match together during the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 in Australia at Adelaide Oval and Ashwin announced his retirement decision during the press conference after the third Test, which was held at the Gabba in Brisbane.