The retirements of batting mainstays Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket surprised former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar, who said he had assumed the two would retire after the next England trip, which begins on June 20.

Earlier this month, Rohit and Kohli both announced their retirements from Test cricket, although they are still playing ODIs. Before the crucial England trip kicked off the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, their departure created a major vacuum in the Indian Test squad.

“Both have exceptional and outstanding cricket players, and they have made significant contributions to Indian cricket.” The five Test matches on the England trip caught me off guard. They liked it before the England visit, but I feared they may call it a day after the tour. It’s their call, I believe,” Vengsarkar told IANS.

With 9,230 runs in 123 games at a remarkable average of 46.85, 30 hundreds, and 31 half-centuries, Kohli concluded his Test career. Meanwhile, Rohit concluded his red-ball career with 4301 runs in 67 games, including 12 hundreds and 18 half-centuries, at an average of 40.57.

After India defeated South Africa to win the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, Rohit and Kohli declared their retirement from Twenty20 Internationals in June 2024.

Vengsarkar believes that the visiting team’s performance in the difficult trip, which begins on June 20, would be greatly impacted by the first two Test matches of the five-match series against England.

It’s a huge loss since both players are seasoned and have performed well in England on each occasion. Other players would then be given the chance to play and make a name for themselves in the Indian squad if it is evident that they have performed well for the India A team in Indian first-class cricket, he said.

Due to Rohit’s retirement, the Indian team will have a new captain when they begin their five-match Test series trip to England on June 20.

Vengasarkar said, “It is difficult to say who will replace them because it is up to (Ajit Agarkar) and Co. as they are selectors,” when asked who would step in to fill the hole created by Rohit and Kohli’s departure from the Indian Test cricket setup. I believe it is all up to them (selectors) as they watch FC matches (Irani Cup, Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy).

Vengasarkar then lavished Shreyas Iyer with compliments on his recent performance. Iyer scored 243 runs at an average of 48.60 in five games during his impressive batting performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 in March. He maintained his excellent performance into the 2025 Indian Premier League, leading the Punjab Kings to their first postseason appearance in eleven years.

Iyer made history by being the first skipper to guide three separate teams—the Delhi Capitals in 2020 and the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024—into the IPL playoffs. Iyer presently has 435 runs in the IPL 2025, with two half-centuries.

When asked whether Iyer’s current form can help him replace the vacuum left by Kohli’s retirement from the T20I and Test formats, the veteran said, “He is a good player, there is no question about it and he’s done very well over the years, he is an experienced player.”