{
  "id": 9976273,
  "title": "'Ab tak band ho jati': Virat-Rohit retirements spark viewership debate; Sehwag explains why cricket will survive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/ab-tak-band-ho-jati-virat-rohit-retirements-spark-viewership-debate",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T12:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ab-tak-band-ho-jati-121200992.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's cricket scene may have lost two of its star players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but former opener Virender Sehwag remains confident that the sport will continue to thrive. During an interview with News18, Sehwag dismissed the notion that the retirements of these two cricketers would lead to a significant drop in viewership. He pointed out that similar concerns were raised whenever past Indian cricket legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Sachin Tendulkar retired. Sehwag argued that despite these retirements, fans still watched cricket as much as they used to. He added that cricket has become more accessible than ever due to the availability of live matches and highlights on smartphones. While Sehwag acknowledged that some fans may watch less cricket after their favorite players retire, he insisted that it does not mean the sport will lose its appeal. He concluded by saying, \"Agar cricketers se hi game chal rahi hoti, toh ab tak band ho jati.\"",
  "summary": "Virender Sehwag states that cricket's allure persists even after major players retire. He points out that past retirements have not impacted the sport's viewership negatively. Sehwag highlights how the advent of mobile technology has broadened cricket's reach. Although the number of dedicated fans may wane, the overall enthusiasm for cricket remains vibrant. Ultimately, he believes that the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Virat, Rohit retirements spark viewership debate; Sehwag says cricket will survive",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/virat-rohit-retirements-spark-viewership-debate-sehwag-says-cricket",
        "published": "2026-09-26T06:42:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}