"I won't worry too much" - Former Australia coach's big take on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's future after BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann reckons that India have enough talent if skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli decide to retire from Tests after the ongoing five-game Border-Gavaskar series. While crediting the duo for their contributions to Indian cricket, he reiterated that there was so much depth in Indian cricket.

The reaction came amid a string of failures for Rohit and Kohli in the series. The latter has failed to deliver following his century in the series opener in Perth, returning with scores of 7,11,3, 36 and 5.

Meanwhile, Rohit has managed 31 runs in five outings at an average of 6.2. There are growing calls that the duo should bid adieu to the format, particularly Rohit.

Lehmann told PTI (via NDTV):

"Look whenever they [Rohit and Kohli] decide to give it away and whatever happens in next few days they have been great players for India over a long period of time."

"Now actually we see younger players starting to step up for India and play well at next level. There is so much depth in Indian cricket I won't worry too much," he added.

Rohit Sharma in last 15 innings: 164 runs at an average of 10.93, including one fifty.

Virat Kohli in last 15 innings: 348 runs at an average of 26.76, including one hundred and a half-century.

Overall in 2024 Tests:

Kohli: 417 runs in 10 Tests @24.52

Rohit: 614 runs in 14 Tests @24.76

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"He (Yashasvi Jaiswal) and Harry Brook are two next generation players" - Darren Lehmann after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma era

Darren Lehmann, meanwhile, lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal for his incredible rise in Tests over the last two years. He said during the same interaction:

"Oh, superstar. One of the best I have seen. He (Jaiswal) and Harry Brook are two next generation players. They are the ones that people will sit back and say they are good players. He played very well in Melbourne and was outstanding in Perth. He has come up leaps and bounds on this tour."

Jaiswal, who is playing his first Test series in Australia, has impressed with scores of 161 (Perth) and 82 & 84 (in Melbourne).

Lehmann further reserved special praise for India vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, who has bagged 30 wickets in four Tests so far. He said:

"He is the best bowler I have ever seen live. I have seen Wasim Akram, Glenn McGrath and all but I have not seen a bowler have impact like him in a single series like Jasprit Bumrah has since Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14 Ashes win."

Speaking about Australian pace trio, Lehmann backed skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to play at least till 2025 Ashes. He said:

"There will be some changes with greats retiring but fast bowling will be good enough. How long Cummins and Starc survive can only be known with time, but hopefully, they will get to till next Ashes."

"I am not so worried about bowling as lot of good kids are coming up. Lance Morris, Xavier Bartlett from Brisbane Heats, so there are plenty of them. Spinners are okay but it is the batting that is being tested at the moment," he added.

Following their 184-run win in Melbourne, Australia are leading the five-game series against India. by a 2-1 margin. They will next be in action in the fifth and final Test, which gets underway in Sydney from January 3 onwards.