Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin deserved a grand Test farewell, feels Monty Panesar

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has voiced his disappointment with the BCCI, suggesting the board failed to adequately honor three of India’s most iconic modern cricketers. Panesar argues that Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin all earned the right to formal farewell Test matches, rather than having their red-ball careers conclude without a dedicated final celebration.

Rohit, Kohli & Ashwin deserved a grand Test farewell, feels Monty Panesar

In Panesar's view, India missed a significant opportunity to pay tribute to the immense contributions these players made over more than a decade. He contrasted the situation with the tradition in England, where legends like Stuart Broad and James Anderson were given high-profile farewell games that allowed fans and the cricketing community to offer a proper goodbye.

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According to Panesar, organizing such matches is about more than just a final appearance; it is a vital sign of respect for athletes who have dedicated their lives to the sport. He believes that by not facilitating these farewells, the BCCI has fallen short of the standard set by other nations in recognizing its greatest sporting ambassadors.

“The BCCI should have planned farewell Test matches for R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. They deserved that respect. England celebrates its players when they retire — for example, Stuart Broad and James Anderson were given great farewells — but India falls short in this regard,” Panesar told IANS.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s Test career came to an abrupt end midway through the 5-match series in Australia, following the Adelaide Test. His decision followed the rapid emergence of Washington Sundar, which created significant uncertainty regarding Ashwin's spot in the starting XI for both home and away fixtures. Speculation suggests that rather than finishing his career on the bench, the legendary spinner chose to retire while still a part of the active squad.

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How incredible was the troika of Ashwin, Kohli and Rohit?

Ashwin concludes his red-ball journey as India’s second-highest wicket-taker of all time, trailing only Anil Kumble. Across 106 Tests, he claimed 537 wickets at a stellar average of 24, while also proving his worth as a genuine all-rounder with six centuries. His impact extended to white-ball cricket as well, where he took 228 wickets and played a vital role in India’s historic 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy victories, finishing with a total of 765 international scalps.

The era also saw the departure of Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen to ever play the game. Over a prolific 14-year career spanning 123 matches, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Beyond his batting prowess, his legacy is defined by his tenure as captain; he transformed India’s approach to the longest format and finished as the fourth-most successful skipper in the history of Test cricket.

Rohit also leaves behind a formidable legacy, having scored 4,301 runs in 67 Tests. While his overall average stands at 40.57, he was particularly dominant as an opener, where his average climbed to 42.81. Under his leadership, India maintained its status as a global powerhouse, notably reaching the final of the 2023 World Test Championship. Together, the retirement of these three giants marks a profound changing of the guard for Indian cricket.