"Very Few Have...": Kapil Dev Makes 'Irreplaceable' Praise For Rohit Sharma

Soumyajit Dutta

Kapil Dev and Rohit Sharma [Source: @aapkadilipgupta/X]Kapil Dev and Rohit Sharma [Source: @aapkadilipgupta/X]

Following Rohit Sharma’s unexpected Test retirement announcement on May 7, legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev hailed the former captain’s impact on Indian cricket. Rohit, who played 67 Tests and scored 4,301 runs with 12 centuries, reinvented himself as a prolific opener in 2019.

Kapil Dev's praise for Rohit was unfiltered and one of a kind as he praised him for being the 'irreplaceable' in the whites.

Kapil Dev's Big Praise For Rohit Sharma!

In an interaction, Kapil Dev told PTI that there are only a handful of players who were as good in Test as Rohit Sharma.

"He did a wonderful job, played good cricket... the way he conducted himself, captained, and played his cricket – in India, very few have played like this. I congratulate him on a wonderful career," Kapil stated. 

Kapil further added that replacing Rohit Sharma’s leadership in Tests would be challenging. Addressing Rohit’s ODI future, Kapil remarked that some things should be left to the selectors.

"Everybody wants to play cricket – Sachin, Gavaskar, everyone wanted to. But this depends on selectors. It’s good he wants to play... some things should be left to selectors," kapil added.

Rohit’s childhood coach, Dinesh Lad, earlier revealed his pupil’s ambition to clinch the 2027 ODI World Cup before retiring. Having already secured the T20 World Cup in 2024, Rohit aims to join MS Dhoni as the only Indian captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies.

Rohit's Contribution in Whites

As skipper from 2022, he led India to the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final but missed qualification for the 2025 edition. His leadership also nurtured emerging talents during India’s recent WTC campaigns.

Rohit’s retirement precedes India’s five-Test series in England, starting June 20, which kicks off their new WTC cycle. The 38-year-old, however, remains committed to ODIs, eyeing the 2027 World Cup as his swansong.