South Africa Great Gibbs Shares Thoughts on Virat Kohli’s Test Retirement: ‘It happens to everyone’

Former South Africa batter Herschelle Gibbs has talked about Virat Kohli’s absence from the upcoming England tour. He also weighed in on the batter’s retirement from Test cricket.

India will travel to England for the five-match Test series commencing June 20. Virat Kohli decided to retire from the red-ball format ahead of the England tour. Gibbs believes that the mental pressure of the game prompted Virat to call time on his Test career.

“It happens to everyone. Time comes to an end. As a player, especially as a batter, I think the mental challenges of international cricket catch up with everyone. Virat is no different,” Gibbs told ANI.

‘There’s a lot of depth’

With Rohit’s retirement, the BCCI appointed Shubman Gill as the new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. The Indian squad for the England tour is relatively younger without the two senior players – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Acknowledging this, Gibbs commented on the profoundness of Indian cricket. He believes that the young players are confident and will do well.

“There’s so much depth in Indian cricket at the moment. I don’t think they’re going to have any issues going to England. I think these youngsters look very hungry. There’s a certain look and feel that you have about them, that they’re very confident,” he said.

“Maybe that confidence Virat instilled in them. He’s been the shining light for India for a long time now. He’s given them that confidence, that self-belief that he himself played with. I think it’s rubbed off on all these youngsters. I think they’re in a good space. There’s a lot of depth. I think they’ll be very good in England,” Gibbs concluded.

‘Virat is one of the greats’

Former Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan also reflected on Virat’s brilliance in the game, stating that he will be missed.

“Yeah, one of the great players produced in India. He has made the decision to retire at the right time. He is definitely going to be a miss. A long career and long experience do not make it easy for a youngster to take that number four position. Definitely, India will find a player for number four,” Dilshan told ANI.

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