Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma not getting farewell was shocking: Ravi Bishnoi

India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi said that he would have liked to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma finish their cricket careers on the field and receive a rousing farewell from international cricket. Both senior players retired from Test cricket in May 2025, shortly after helping India win the Champions Trophy title earlier this year, and will now only feature in ODIs, having announced their retirements from T20Is in 2024.

Prior to the Champions Trophy, both of them played their last Test series against Australia, and bid goodbye to the longest format via a social media post. Bishnoi believes that the contributions made by the legends are unparalleled, and their absence has left a void behind to be filled.

“It is actually shocking, because you always want to see them retire from the field. For such big legends, you want them to leave while still being on the field, that looks much better. And what both of them have done for India, in my view, there is no one even close,” Bishnoi said on the Game Changers podcast.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma played their last international game in the Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, where they played a big role in helping India secure its second ICC title in a span of nine months. Post which, their sudden retirement from the longest format left a huge gap in Indian cricket, with the team now undergoing transition under the leadership of Shubman Gill.

Furthermore, Bishnoi also hoped that the two legends would still get a proper farewell from ODIs.

“You want them to get a good farewell, but maybe they will get that in ODIs as well, whenever they leave, whenever they want to. Because no one can tell you when you will retire. But it was shocking when both of them retired, because suddenly you feel like two spots have become empty, who will come and fulfil that?” he added.

Both Sharma and Kohli are all set to play the 3-match ODI series against Australia in October to stay in the reckoning and consideration for the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Meanwhile, Bishnoi has been going through a tough phase in his own career. He was not picked in the 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and last played for India in the fifth T20I against England in February. His sudden disappearance has been noticed, as he once ruled as the No.1 T20I bowler in December 2023.

Bishnoi last featured in IPL 2025 for the Lucknow Super Giants, picking up 9 wickets in 11 matches. He was overshadowed by his teammate Digvesh Rathi, who had a breakthrough season, finishing with 14 wickets at an economy of 8.25.