‘They can decide when they want to stop playing’: Ajaz Patel backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli amid retirement speculations
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel has thrown his weight behind Indian cricket legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, stating that both icons have the right to decide their own ODI futures amid growing speculation over their potential retirements following India’s recent Champions Trophy triumph.
Patel, who is currently in India as part of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s delegation, acknowledged the immense contributions of the two batting greats and stressed that their decision should be respected.
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“They’re the greats of the game. To be honest, I think they can decide when they want to stop playing. They’re well within their rights to go for as long as they want,” Patel told IANS. “They’ve both got phenomenal records and they’re both phenomenal players, and I know as a bowler it’s always worrying to be able to bowl to either of them.”
Virat Kohli was in sublime form throughout India’s title-winning campaign in Dubai, scoring 218 runs from five matches at an average of 54.50. Kohli’s consistent performances played a pivotal role in India claiming their third Champions Trophy title.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma further cemented his legacy as a captain by becoming the second most successful Indian skipper in terms of ICC titles. Under Rohit’s leadership, India clinched their second ICC silverware in less than nine months after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Patel acknowledged India’s dominance in the final, saying, “India just played good cricket on the day, I guess. New Zealand performed really well throughout the tournament and we played some phenomenal cricket. I think the conditions obviously made it tougher as well, but at the end of the day, India played very good cricket and unfortunately we lost on the day.”
With the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) set to kick off on March 22, Patel also spoke about the tournament’s significance for New Zealand cricketers.
“IPL is a massive tournament around the world and it’s a highly lauded tournament, so it’s always exciting to watch. You get to see some of the best cricket, some of the best players, and obviously the way that it’s run and structured is quite impressive,” he said. “It’s been fantastic for New Zealand players to be able to come over here, challenge themselves, and get exposure on the world stage as well.”
