Rohit Sharma Retires: A Tribute from Ajinkya Rahane Amidst KKR's Struggle

Ajinkya Rahane lauds Rohit Sharma's Test career as KKR falls to CSK. Rohit's retirement leaves a significant gap ahead of India's England tour. Despite setbacks, Rahane remains optimistic about KKR's playoff chances, highlighting key performances and addressing challenges in the recent match against CSK.

In a heartfelt gesture, Ajinkya Rahane, skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), congratulated his longtime teammate Rohit Sharma on his illustrious Test career following a defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Sharma, known for his evolution from a middle-order batter to a Test opener, announced his retirement after a remarkable 11-year journey, leaving India with a leadership gap ahead of their England tour this June for the ICC World Test Championship.

During a post-match press conference, Rahane expressed astonishment over Sharma's retirement. He praised Sharma's adaptability, recalling his transition from batting positions five and six to opening Test innings. With 67 Tests, 4,301 runs, and numerous centuries and fifties, Sharma ends his career as India's 16th top run-scorer, with highlights like a 212 score against South Africa in 2019.

Reflecting on KKR's match loss, Rahane noted a pivotal 11th over where CSK's Dewald Brevis struck 30 runs off Vaibhav Arora, tipping the game. Despite a comeback, MS Dhoni's late-game six solidified CSK's win. Rahane remains hopeful for KKR to qualify for playoffs, citing players like Andre Russell finding form and positive team performance.

(With inputs from agencies.)