Cricket
Virat Kohli and Test Cricket: Clarifying His Status and Could a Future "Un-Retirement" Ever Happen?
Virat Kohli’s sudden decision to retire from Test cricket left the cricketing universe by surprise. But will he come out of retirement anytime soon to cherish his favourite format? Let us learn the possible scenarios governing Kohli’s Test status.
India's Virat Kohli//Getty Images
In a shocking revelation, Indian talisman batter Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket on May 12, 2025. Unlike many other cricketers who held special press conferences, he took to social media to announce his departure from the whites. His sudden decision to hang boots from a well-cherished format sent shockwaves of astonishment across the cricketing fraternity, as cricket pundits and fans took to various forms of media to express their thoughts.
"His decision has surprised me," former India captain and Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly reckoned.
Kohli, 36, was fit enough to play five days of cricket, having made a Ranji Trophy return for Delhi after thirteen years. As India aimed to prepare for the upcoming World Test Championship Cycle, starting with the five-match tour of England in June, Kohli was set to be one of the vital cogs in the Indian squad. However, the sudden decision to quit international red-ball cricket in the aftermath of Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s retirement has sparked a plethora of doubts and questions in the minds of the viewers.
In the aftermath of his retirement, speculations have built up of a potential comeback. Contrary to some discussions or misunderstandings, stating that Kohli has not retired from Test cricket. It is important to clarify what’s factually correct. He has officially bid adieu to a format he loved. But will Kohli replicate the path trailed by the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, etc, and make a comeback? Will Kohli come out of retirement in due time? Or will he stick to his words and bid goodbye to Test cricket forever?
Virat Kohli's Current Test Cricket Status
Currently, Virat has retired from the red-ball format. He expressed to walk ‘away with a heart full of gratitude for the game, and would ‘look back’ at his Test career ‘with a smile.’ He concluded his Test career with 9230 runs from 123 matches and 210 innings with a batting average of 46.85. The Delhi-based star struck 30 centuries and 31 fifties throughout an elusive career. His prime came between 2016-2019, amassing 16 tons across varied conditions and continents.
Why Does Speculation About Kohli's Test Future (or a Hypothetical "Un-Retirement") Arise?
There could be several reasons behind the uproar of speculations around Kohli’s Test future. This could be due to the trend of a few cricketers who reversed their retirement in due time. It may also be due to the age factor or other potential reasons. In the age of social media, it hardly takes any time for a speculation to arise, and with the fan following of Kohli, it can happen in a jiffy. We identify the potential reasons behind speculations regarding Kohli’s retirement reversal.
- Age and Longevity: Kohli is only 36, and going by the records, not many Indian batters prefer to call their time off at this age unless any anatomical mishap. The great Sachin Tendulkar played till the age of 40, Rahul Dravid continued till 39, while Sri Lankan swashbuckler Sanath Jayasuriya’s last game came a few days shy of his 42nd birthday. Henceforth, retiring prematurely with plenty of cricket left certainly raised eyebrows.
- Workload Management: Unlike other batters, Kohli is one of the fittest cricketers going around in the world. Questions on fitness and Kohli don’t at all go hand in hand. Also, he isn’t a fast bowler who would require a close monitor on their workload and manage it accordingly.
- Shift in Captaincy: Many believe that a potential shift in captaincy could be one of the reasons why Kohli’s name could spring up for the selectors and the BCCI. With Rohit Sharma's retirement from the red-ball format, Indian Test captaincy hangs by a thread. The front-runners – KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shubman Gill – have their own drawbacks as a skipper. While Rahul hasn’t had a great captaincy record in the past for IPL setups and India, Bumrah’s workload management and Gill’s inexperience are some of the primary factors to think about before choosing a new captain. This is where Kohli, who led India to multiple overseas Test series wins, would be an apt candidate for India captaincy
- Comparisons: Other cricketers such as Kevin Pietersen, Moeen Ali, Shahid Afridi, Ben Stokes, and Tamim Iqbal, among others, have come out of retirement for their respective nations in the past. While this may be due to varied reasons, a general perception of ‘what if’ is bound to arise.
Hypothetical Scenario: If Kohli Were to Retire from Tests, Could He "Take it Back"?
Many renowned cricketers have come out of retirement and appeared for a few matches during the fag end of their respective career. Names such as Shahid Afridi, Carl Hooper, Kevin Pietersen, Jerome Taylor, Bom Simpson, and Javed Miandad are a few of the examples to cite. However, they had their validations for the return.
Kohli is a man of his word and is likely not to return to the format unless an urgent need. India has a pool of cricketers who are ready to take the challenge and fill the vacuum left by Kohli’s departure. The same was expected of Kohli after relinquishing the Test captaincy in 2021, and to everyone’s notice, he never opted to return as India’s Test skipper. So, similar is expected of the Indian talisman batter as he looks to keep his focus on the ODI format only.
Factors Influencing a Potential Comeback (Hypothetical)
Cricket is a funny game. We have seen Shahid Afridi retire multiple times and return to the field. We have even seen Imran Khan bow out of his cricketing career after an embarrassing loss to Australia in the Cricket World Cup 1987, and then make a comeback to win the World Cup.
Few things are guaranteed in this sport, so hypothetically, Virat’s comeback to Test cricket could be possible. But what logical instances could lead to such a decision from one of the greatest Indian Test batters? Let us analyse.
Team Need: Kohli was one of the mainstays of the Indian Test team, batting at the No. 4 position. The second-down slot is a crucial one in any format of cricket, as a batter often needs to adapt to the conditions.
In case of an early couple of setbacks, the no. 4 batter required the skillset to face the new ball heat, and in the case of a solid foundation being built by the top order, the no. 4 batter was required to take the baton forward. Kohli was a master of this tricky art and made the no. 4 position his own in the Indian Test setup. It remains to be seen if the newcomers get to fulfil the role as appropriately as the Indian veteran did. If the team undergoes turbulence in the middle order, Kohli’s experience could be reckoned on.
Personal Desire/Unfinished Business: The Delhi batter was 770 runs shy of knitting 10000 runs in the red-ball format. But for cricketers of Kohli’s stature, these numerical achievements seldom matter. It’s the team that comes above anything. If Kohli has taken a decision not to come back to the red-ball arena, it should be a well-thought-out decision.
However, the fans love speculating and building their expectations. So, if Kohli had to retire, it would be very little for achieving 10000 runs. Rather, it could be due to a burning hunger still breathing inside his tummy.
Fitness Levels: There should be no iota of doubt about Kohli’s fitness. He is the man who revolutionised fitness in modern Indian cricket and global cricket as a whole. It won’t be wrong to state that Kohli is certainly the poster boy of fitness in India. Fans and pundits have been speculating on the 36-year-old’s great fitness, which would resonate well with Test cricket.
BCCI's Stance: Cricket as a sport has witnessed numerous interventions by the sports and individuals from higher authorities dictating the career of a cricketer. Tamim Iqbal of Bangladesh is a great example to cite when the people from the Prime Minister’s office played an intermediary role to reverse his retirement ahead of the Cricket World Cup 2023. Can the BCCI pull off a similar stunt? It is yet to be seen.
Arguments Against a Comeback
Kohli is a man of his word. We have witnessed it in the past when he relinquished his Test captaincy after a speculated misunderstanding with the BCCI, led by then President Sourav Ganguly. Since then, he hasn’t led the Indian team as a full-time captain. Even the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul led the Indian team during the absence of Rohit Sharma, but not Kohli.
Moreover, his recent red-ball numbers haven’t done justice to his potential. He could garner a solo ton during the Test tour down under this recent Australian summer. Since 2019, the 1988-born have had a worrisome time in the red-ball arena. The only year when he averaged over 50 with the willow was in 2023, when he mustered 671 runs from twelve innings at an average of 55.91. In the other four years (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024), his Test batting average fell below 30.
The Impact of Kohli's Eventual (Actual) Test Retirement
The Indian stalwart’s early retirement sent waves of shock and surprise across the global cricket fraternity. Fans and pundits displayed disappointment and astonishment as Kohli called his time off from his favourite format. The Indian right-handed batter was one of the classiest in the act, having been the fourth-best run-getter in Tests for India. He was behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar in this list.
However, the impact created by Kohli in India’s Test circuit is more than just runs. As a captain, he pushed India’s fast bowling to its peak. The likes of Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah, among others, built confidence under Kohli’s leadership. How is that going to shape up in his absence? That is one thing to watch out for.
On the field, Kohli was a live wire. Five days game was never boring anymore when Kohli was around. Even if it was a one-sided affair, Kohli’s weird antics and hyper enthusiasm would keep the match interesting. He was an epitome of aggression. Players might come and go, but very few would be able to match the energy and aura that Kohli carried on the field. Test cricket as a whole would definitely miss that.
Reference
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Virat Kohli’s Reaction to Test Retirement: Hindustan Times. Virat Kohli’s first reaction on 'difficult decision' to retire from Test cricket: ‘It’s not easy to step away…’ https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-first-reaction-on-difficult-decision-to-retire-from-test-cricket-it-s-not-easy-to-step-away-but-feels-101747030778957.html Accessed 19.05.2025
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Ranji Trophy 2024–25, Delhi vs Railways Scorecard: ESPNcricinfo. Delhi vs Railways, Elite Group D Full Scorecard – Ranji Trophy 2024–25. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ranji-trophy-2024-25-1445824/delhi-vs-railways-elite-group-d-1445948/full-scorecard Accessed 19.05.2025
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Kohli Returns to Ranji Trophy After 13 Years: LiveMint. Virat Kohli returns to Ranji Trophy after 13 years to play under Ayush Badoni in Delhi’s fixture against Railways. https://www.livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/virat-kohli-returns-to-ranji-trophy-after-13-years-to-play-under-ayush-badoni-in-delhis-fixture-against-railways-11737431338714.html Accessed 19.05.2025
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Ganguly Reacts to Kohli's Test Retirement: Hindustan Times. Virat Kohli’s Test retirement surprises Sourav Ganguly: ‘Can anyone leave the sport without…’ https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/virat-kohlis-test-retirement-surprises-sourav-ganguly-can-anyone-leave-the-sport-without-101747555368949.html Accessed 20.05.2025
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Virat Kohli Career Stats: ESPNcricinfo. Virat Kohli | Career Stats – Batting and Bowling. https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/virat-kohli-253802/bowling-batting-stats Accessed 20.05.2025
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Comebacks in Cricket – Eleven Cricketers Who Returned: ESPNcricinfo. Afridi, then Tamim, now… and many more: Eleven cricketers who returned for an encore. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/afridi-then-tamim-now-and-many-more-eleven-cricketers-who-returned-for-an-encore-1386555 Accessed 21.05.2025
Arijit, a young Sports Journalist, can be best described as a cricket nerd, who cherishes the wooden sphere beating the edge of the bat more often than a six middled off the willow.