Onus now firmly on Laxman and Tendulkar

[Ultimate_Game]

After Dravid's retirement onus is now firmly on Laxman and Tendulkar to either retire or at least disclose their plan for the future. I think these two owe it to Indian cricket and Indian cricket fans to let them know what are their future plans, i.e. do they intend to retire within this year, in a couple of year's time or not at all. One of the main reason for doing so is that Dravid has retired after the diastrous 0-8 showing in England and Aus and he actually was the best batsman out of the 3 with 3 100s to show for against Eng, whereas Laxman and Tendulkar have yet to score a century in more than a year. Tendulkar may have some time left as our selectors don't have the balls to do much but Laxman's time should be up as he doesn't have the same leverage with selectors, and he actuallly looked worse out of the big 3. Considering the new rule where batsmen can't get a substitute runner in case of injury and considering Laxman's recent history with injuries (bad back) where most of his recent match-winning knocks came while fighting bad back and relying on a substitute runner, he may well be dropped if he doesn't decide to retire.

[Lord]

I'd say they have the onus to guide the youngsters.we have 2 now.Laxman should go after England series n SRT wenever he decides:P

[Laaloo]

Laxman will retire before we play the next test series and Tendulkar will retire after the Eng series or the series after that. It's really not that hard. These retirements are hard to announce because we dont freaking play another test match for such a long time and in between we have the ***** fest, and the crap cup, and other nonessential matches in the SC.

[Khalpat]

One question, dont you think quiting now or taking retirement is the easiest thing for these players especially Sachin. I mean he knows that if he says that next series will be his last the whole environment which has been created against him will fade and people will say worlds greatest batsman is going to retire. But there is one more way, why not they prove it by their bat guide India in winning next series and then retire and take this opportunity of criticism as the last challenge of their cricketing carrier. Personally I would prefer the second one.

[GautiMaan]

The whole thing should have been planned earlier.For instance,if the trio had announced their retirement at the start of the England or Aus series,it might have made the whole squad more purposeful and they could've groomed the youngsters.Now the careers of these legends is ending in a bad way.

[Raghav_12]

They'll decide on it whenever they feel it is justified. Anybody is fool who think that Dravid took decision of retirement because some key-board warriors at ICF wrote acerbic and abusing stuff against him. To me his going to Australia after very successful English tour was perfectly justified. At the beginning of tour all of us, including buffons of media, had thought that this is our best chance to win in Australia and seniors should do it for country one last time. How many of us would have liked if VVS Laxman had retired before australian tour knowing his earlier exploits in Australia? Similarly, a lot of people abused when Dravid and Laxman did not announce their retirement immediately after Adelaide test. There were few sane voices who said that since India is not scheduled to play a test for next 4-5 months, so what difference it makes if they declare their retirement today or a month later. But most of the posters continued with their name-calling un-abated. I hope today they look at the some of the posts they made against Dravid and seniors in afermath of Aussie debacle and regret those.

[Sachin=GOD]

Its been 3 years since Ganguly retired but we are yet to find a proper replacement. Now Dravid too is gone without any replacement and here we have people asking for the other 2 also to retire.

[Number]

Completely rookie middle order is not a good idea.But I don't think these seniors can guide youngsters. We have Yuvraj for almost a decade , probably finest talent of his generation couldn't establish himself as a test batsman. Then Kaif , Murali Vijay , Raina. As for replacements , we won't find any half-decent replacement for RD in a decade. Do we have replacement of Kapil , Kumble , Sunny ? So they should've never retired ? I feel VVS will retire , SRT is still fit for tests.

[audioman]

One question, dont you think quiting now or taking retirement is the easiest thing for these players especially Sachin. I mean he knows that if he says that next series will be his last the whole environment which has been created against him will fade and people will say worlds greatest batsman is going to retire. But there is one more way, why not they prove it by their bat guide India in winning next series and then retire and take this opportunity of criticism as the last challenge of their cricketing carrier. Personally I would prefer the second one.

It being easy or tough is hardly as critical a question as it being right or wrong. While the former is all about the "I", the more pertinent latter is solely about the team.

[VRV Singh]

VVS will probably move to #3..

[Ultimate_Game]

Its been 3 years since Ganguly retired but we are yet to find a proper replacement. Now Dravid too is gone without any replacement and here we have people asking for the other 2 also to retire.

Pujara, Rahane or Rohit would still be better than Laxman at this stage, especially given Laxman's injury concerns of late.

[Raghav_12]

Pujara' date=' Rahane or [b']Rohit would still be better than Laxman at this stage, especially given Laxman's injury concerns of late.

Rohit at this stage better than a fit Laxman in test matches? He is struggling to save his position in Indian ODI team already. You can probably make a case for Pujara. Though Laxman's Mohali, Durban and Colombo innings haven't come really long ago, yet he is looking very much out of sorts as of now.

[Prakat]

VVS will probably move to #3..

Doubt it. VVS hates that spot.

[Ultimate_Game]

Rohit at this stage better than a fit Laxman in test matches? He is struggling to save his position in Indian ODI team already. You can probably make a case for Pujara. Though Laxman's Mohali, Durban and Colombo innings haven't come really long ago, yet he is looking very much out of sorts as of now.

Fit Laxman is an oxymoron. I don't recall seeing a fit laxman the last 2-3 years. He has struggled with bad back throughout and is too much of a risk at this time. I would prefer Rohit over Laxman at the time and give him a long run with the side. Making a call on Rohit's test credentials based on his odi performances is a disservice to Rohit IMO.

[Khalpat]

For me, Sachin is a once in a lifetime batsman in par with players like Bradman, Sobers so I do not want him to retire just because AajTak, Arnab Goswami, Ganguly, Kapil Dev, U_G, Outty, Lurker, Rett wants him to retire. He should retire ofcourse he will, everybody willl have to one day. Let him decide till he is playing good or deserving a place in team if not playing well throw him out of the team. But not retirement because 57% drawing room critic wants.

[rkt.india]

To me his going to Australia after very successful English tour was perfectly justified. At the beginning of tour all of us, including buffons of media, had thought that this is our best chance to win in Australia and seniors should do it for country one last time. How many of us would have liked if VVS Laxman had retired before australian tour knowing his earlier exploits in Australia?

I had never thought or expected them to win test series in Aus this time because of their new pace attack including Pattinson and Cummins. I had even picked an option of 2-1 to Aus, but it proved worse than that. Their best chance was in 2003-2004 when most of the batsmen were at their peak and conditions were batting friendly that this time.

[rkt.india]

Its been 3 years since Ganguly retired but we are yet to find a proper replacement. Now Dravid too is gone without any replacement and here we have people asking for the other 2 also to retire.

Did we get replacement of Gavaskar or Kapil, no? Greats are never replaced. You are to play with what you have and give chances to others if one fails. We never had any ready made replacement of any player.

[rkt.india]

VVS will probably move to #3..

He will be exposed even more at #3.

[rkt.india]

Rohit at this stage better than a fit Laxman in test matches? He is struggling to save his position in Indian ODI team already. You can probably make a case for Pujara. Though Laxman's Mohali, Durban and Colombo innings haven't come really long ago, yet he is looking very much out of sorts as of now.

Rohit's game is not made of ODIs. Yes he can hit big shots, but he does not have the art of taking singles and doubles that is where he builds pressure in ODIs and then plays foolish shots, but that is not the requirement in tests where he can take his time and he will always get 4s in tests. He is pretty much like Laxman in that regard who too used to depend on boundaries rather than single doubles. Rohit already had a 100 in 2008 against touring ozz side in a warmp up game against Lee, Siddle, Johnson, etc.

[chainsmoker1985]

He will be exposed even more at #3.

Laxman should now retire respectfully even now, that would be acceptable. But if he decides to play even 1 match more, I will honestly lose all the respect for him.