Cricket goes beyond its boundaries and scorecards, an emotional pursuit. It lives emotionally, thrives on legacy, and discovers eternal life in victory, heartbroken moments and respect for great men. However, one area where Indian cricket continues to falter is to handle farewells in a consistent way.
The Indian Cricket Control Council has no clear policy in commemorating retired players. This lack of structure became apparent even in 2013, when the board had to offer a special allowance for Sachin Tendulkar to take a farewell exam at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a feeling, feel right, poetic and rich gesture.
Fast forward to the present, and the quiet exits of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (two pillars of modern Indian cricket) form a stark contrast. Although none of the cricketers publicly requested etiquette, the board could have proactively admitted their legacy.
What causes a sudden exit?
Media reports show that there is no attempt to keep them. Virat is understood to have expressed interest in playing the England series, and Rohit is well suited and ready to lead – but the selection team of head coaches Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar reportedly said a company “no”. Now, neither Kohli nor Rohit will have no applause from his teammates and emotional moments shared with fans, without guarding honors.
Like Anil Kumble’s voice points out that these icons should be better. Cricket is not only a game, but a legend that goes beyond the profession with emotion, admiration and moments. As the dust settles in the era of Ro-Ko, a question remains: Is Indian cricket failing to say goodbye to its modern Giants?
