Former India coach and bowling legend Anil Kumble was left surprised by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement within a few days of each other. He said the batting duo, as well as Ravichandran Ashwin (who retired last year), deserved to bid adieu with a ‘proper send-off’ on the field. Ashwin retired from all international cricket in the middle of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December. Rohit hung his Test boots on May 7, while Kohli followed him only five days later, on May 12, during the break in IPL 2025 due to the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. “It is a very quiet exit,” Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo. “Every player deserves to leave on his terms, but I think on the field. We spoke about this when R Ashwin retired as well, right in the middle of the series he announced his retirement and came back (to India from Australia). Right now, Rohit Sharma a few days ago and then Virat Kohli. I think all three of them deserved a proper send off on the field. I strongly believe people who matter need to address that. I know it is a social media age, yes the fans want to be there, there would have been plenty of fans and have a roaring send off.” Kumble added that Kohli would have ‘thought through’ the decision. “It is a huge surprise. Two outstanding, great players retiring on the back of few days. I didn’t see it coming. It has certainly caught me off guard. I thought he has a few more years left in him, especially at the Test level,” Kumble said. “He’s playing only the ODI format now. No player leaves with any regret and I am sure he would have thought through this and ultimately it is the player’s call,” he added. They won’t feature in the five-Test series against England, which begins in June, and the team will begin its transition to youth. Shubman Gill has been touted to take over from Rohit as the captain. England is going to be tough: Anil Kumble Kumble said that without Rohit and Kohli, the England series will be tough for India. “Rohit has retired, he had been captain for a while and Virat is probably the most accomplished captain for India and you would have wanted one of the guys to be around. England is going to be tough, it is a five-Test… I think it must have come as a surprise to the selectors as well. I’m sure the selectors would have looked to pursue him.” The first Test will begin on June 20 in Headingley.