India Test Squad For England Tour Highlights: Gambhir speaks on Kohli's retirement, 2027 World Cup future

India coach Gambhir said that it was Kohli and Rohit’s personal decision.

Gambhir has also spoken on Kohli and Rohit’s future at the 2027 ODI World Cup. He feels “age is just a number,” but doesn’t want to speculate about anything from now on. Listen in…

Many feel Gambhir played a role in Kohli and Rohit retiring from Tests. He has now spoken on the matter for the first time, stating that no one can be forced to retire and that it’s their personal decision.

“I think when you start the game and when you want to finish, it’s a very individual decision,” Gambhir said in an interview with CNN-News18. “No one has the right — be it the coach, the selector, or anyone in this country — to tell someone when to retire. It comes from within.”

Meanwhile, India A’s squad for the tour of England has already been announced.

India A squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC) (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.

Note: Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan will join the squad ahead of the second match.

India A will play two matches against England Lions and one match against the senior team.

A fresh report in Cricbuzz claims that Shubman Gill will be India’s next Test captain. Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are likely to be picked.

India’s likely Test sqaud: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rishabh Pant, Druv Jurel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.

Former BCCI chief selectors feel Bumrah should be the captain and Gill can be his deputy. He also thinks Arshdeep should be picked. “My captain would be Jasprit Bumrah as he has already proven himself as a leader. As far my vice-captain is concerned, I would like Shubman Gill to gain some experience as Bumrah’s deputy. In case you have a problem with Bumrah’s fitness then my choice is KL Rahul,” Prasad told PTI.

“As far as my assessment goes, Nitish Reddy’s bowling will be more effective in England than it was in Australia. If we are taking 16, then I would want a left-arm swing bowler and my choice is Arshdeep Singh. I would like KL Rahul to bat No. 4 and my reserve opener would be Abhimanyu Easwaran.”

MSK’s squad: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal 2. KL Rahul 3. Sai Sudharsan 4. Shubman Gill (vc) 5. Rishabh Pant 6. Ravindra Jadeja 7. Nitish Reddy 8. Kuldeep Yadav 9. Jasprit Bumrah (captain) 10. Mohd Siraj 11. Mohd Shami 12. Prasidh Krishna 13. Dhruv Jurel (wk) 14. Washington Sundar 15. Arshdeep Singh 16. Abhimanyu Easwaran.