NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer and ex-selector Madan Lal believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma still have plenty to offer with the bat and should be given the freedom to decide when to call time on their careers.
Both Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from T20Is and Test cricket but continue to feature in ODIs, with an eye on securing spots for the 2027 World Cup.
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Their recent performances have shown no signs of decline - in fact, their form and fitness have remained impressive, with the veteran duo playing pivotal roles in India's ODI victories over Australia and South Africa.
"It is their decision and not anybody else's. So (it should be) whatever they decide," Lal told PTI Videos on the sidelines of an Asian Legends League Season 2.
"But the way they are playing the ODI series, shows that they are still very, very fresh and look like they are some 28 or 30-years-old.
"The way Virat Kohli is running (between the wickets while) taking the singles and hitting the balls. It's nice to see (the way they are going)," he added.
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Lal, who was part of the selection panel when the legendary Sachin Tendulkar took over as India captain, noted that selectors and coaches are always the first to face criticism when a team underperforms.
"The first person to be criticised is the coach and the selector, I have been both, so they will get the criticism, never mind. As long as your conscience is right, that matters," he said.
"If the team is not doing good then it becomes a case of (critics) going after the selectors. But if the team is not doing well then it is also a calculative thing that your coach is as good as your team."
Tendulkar had a mixed run as captain with India losing nine out of 25 Tests and winning four, whereas they lost 43 out of 73 ODIs and won 23.
"But you do make mistakes. I, as a coach, when Sachin was… I have made mistakes and they are part of the game," he said.
