Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin (PTI Photo) Former England spinner Monty Panesar said the BCCI should have done more to honor some of India’s biggest cricket stars. He believes Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin deserved proper farewell Test matches before retiring from international cricket.Panesar feels that India has missed an important chance to celebrate the careers of these players. He compared India’s approach to England, where special farewell games are often held for retired players. According to him, such matches show respect for the players who have given many years to this sport.
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Speaking to IANS, Panesar said: “The BCCI should have planned farewell Test matches for R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They deserved that respect. England celebrate their players when they retire – Stuart Broad and James Anderson, for example, got a great farewell – but India is lagging behind in that respect.”Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket in May last year. Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia in December 2024.Kohli is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of the modern era. He ended his 14-year Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. Kohli also had a successful run as India’s Test captain, finishing as the fourth most successful captain in Test history.Rohit Sharma played 67 Test matches and scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57. He hit 12 centuries and 18 fifties. As an opener, his average was even better at 42.81. Under his leadership, India reached the final of the 2023 Test World Cup, where they finished second.Ravichandran Ashwin ended his Test career with 537 wickets in 106 matches at an average of 24. He is India’s second highest wicket-taker after Anil Kumble. Ashwin also contributed with the bat, scoring six centuries and 14 half-centuries. His last international match was a day-night Test in Adelaide.In white-ball cricket, Ashwin has taken 228 wickets across ODIs and T20Is. He finished with 765 international wickets overall and was part of India’s 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning teams.
