Days after two senior players in the Indian cricket setup, and announced retirement from Test cricket, the Team India head coach, has recently broken silence on the matter, while adding that it was their personal decision.

Notably, Gambhir's opinion came after several reports had claimed that the selection committee forced them to put down curtains to their career in the longest format

As the Indian team prepares for the upcoming series against England, Gautam Gambhir will hope for a better result this time. Moreover, the side will also see some new additions with three of the stalwarts of the game, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli no longer part of the team in the longest format.

Gautam Gambhir in his recent interaction, admitted that it would be a tough task to replace the two senior batters, Rohit and Kohli.

It's a very individual decision: Gambhir on Rohit - Kohli's Test retirement

Speaking on Cricket Next, Gambhir accepted that he would want players to step up especially with no Rohit and Kohli in the side now. "And yes, we've got to be without two senior players. And sometimes I believe that it's the opportunity for some other people to put their hand up and say, Okay, I'm ready for it.

So yes, it will be tough, but then there'll be people putting their hand up for sure because this question was asked to me before,' Gambhir said.

The former India cricketer also cited the example from India's recent success at Champions Trophy, explaining, "Champions Trophy as well. When Jasprit Bumrah wasn't there, I said exactly the same thing: someone missing out might give another person an opportunity to do something special for the country. Hopefully, there'll be other guys waiting for that opportunity.'

Reiterating on the rumours of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's decision to call it quits being a forced one, Gambhir clarified, "I think, when you start the game and when you want to finish, it's a very individual decision. No one has the right." "Be it the coach, the selector, be it anyone in this country, has any right to tell someone when to retire and when not to retire. So it comes from within," he further asserted.

Recalling the numbers of the two senior players, Rohit Sharma put down curtains to his Test career, having amassed 4301 runs off 67 matches, averaging 40.57.

Virat Kohli, however, put an end to his 14-year-long illustrious career, scoring 9230 runs in 123 Tests, averaging 46.85.