Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the stalwarts of Indian cricket, but their retirement has recently been a topic of hot debate. Ever since the duo has endured a lull in their batting form. Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed believes they should be allowed to continue playing and decide their future in international cricket.

Questions loomed over the future of India's captain Rohit and senior batter Kohli after their consecutive Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia, in which both struggled with the willow.

"People should not even talk about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their performances have been outstanding for India," said former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed on Sunday.

"Virat Kohli has won those matches for India, and I have seen it with my own eyes, you can't imagine, the kind of performances he has produced for India.

"The same goes for Rohit Sharma. The way he is leading the team. He led the team outstandingly in the 2023 (ODI) World Cup and won the T20 World Cup," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

According to Ahmed, Virat and Rohit will bid farewell when they think the time is right but until then, India should make their teams "around them".

"Let them play and let them decide what they want to do. You should make your team around them. The way they bid adieu to T20Is, they will do it for other formats when they will feel it is time. You should not make a team be removing them, you should make teams by including them," he said.

Ahmed also spoke about how Indian players, who have not travelled to Pakistan and are playing all their matches in Dubai, would receive a lot of love and admiration from people in Pakistan.

"I will tell you the general view of the Pakistani people — they want to see the Indian team in Pakistan," he said.

"The people of Pakistan love India and their cricketers a lot and they respect them a lot. The way international cricket has returned to Pakistan in the last 7-8 years. Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Pat Cummins and other top stars of world cricket have played in Pakistan.

"The Pakistani people want the Indian team to come to Pakistan and they will get a lot of love there. They should come, everything is (going) very good. The whole tournament (Champions Trophy) is being organised well and everything is being held safely," he said.

"I think there is no difference in things. People are the same. We just want that the Indian team comes to Pakistan so that our people can also see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah playing in Pakistan," he concluded.

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