Time, Gentlemen, Please: The Long Innings is Finally Over for Kohli and Rohit

 

Cricket, as often eloquently written, is more than just a game. It is a theatre, a drama played out on a green stage. And like any good drama, it has its heroes, its villains, and its inevitable denouement. For Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have occupied center stage for the best part of a generation, their names etched in the annals of the game alongside Tendulkar and Dravid. But the roar of the crowd, as intoxicating as it is, can sometimes mask the ticking clock. A point arrives, even for the most celebrated batsmen, when the applause begins to sound more like a nostalgic echo than a celebration of present form.

There is a certain unease in the air these days, a sense that the curtain may be about to fall on two illustrious careers. The relief that washes over the stands when either Kohli or Rohit scores a few runs – a palpable sigh of "thank goodness!" – speaks volumes. It is a far cry from the unbridled joy that once greeted every boundary. Now, fans find themselves engaged in a constant exercise of justification, reaching for straws, citing past glories, and concocting increasingly outlandish explanations for every mistimed shot or hesitant foot. "Remember that innings at Lord's?" or "He's just finding his feet” have become familiar refrains that are laden with palpable desperation.

This is never a good sign. A true measure of a cricketer isn't just in the runs scored, but in the manner of their scoring, the effortless grace, and the commanding presence. When the narrative shifts from celebrating achievement to rationalizing shortcomings, it is a clear indication that the twilight of a career is upon us. It is a bit like watching an aging maestro struggle with a piece they once played flawlessly. The brilliance is still there, flickering occasionally, but the consistency, the effortless command, has faded.

Kohli and Rohit have given Indian cricket so much. Their passion, their dedication, their sheer will to win, are beyond question. But cricket, like life, is a story with chapters. And sometimes, the most graceful act is to know when to turn the page. The time has come, perhaps, for these two titans of the game to hang up their boots, to walk off the field to a standing ovation, their legacy secure, rather than risk tarnishing it with diminishing returns. As it has been observed, the crowd, that fickle beast, can turn in an instant. It is better to leave the stage while the applause is still ringing in your ears, while the memories are still golden, than to linger on, clinging to the past, until the cheers fade into a polite silence. The long innings, is finally over. However, it is a pity that the gentlemen in question are not listening.