Why Did Kohli Decide to Retire from Tests?

New Delhi, May 12 (NationPress) Salil Ankola, a former cricketer from India and national selector, expressed that Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket was somewhat of a surprise for him. He had anticipated witnessing the remarkable batter achieve the milestone of 10,000 runs in the longest format of the sport.

On Monday, Kohli revealed that he has concluded his 14-year Test career with immediate effect, marking the end of an illustrious tenure where he scored 9,230 runs across 123 matches with an average of 46.85 – positioning him as the fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests for India, following legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

“I just learned about this news five minutes ago and I’m still processing it. Nobody expected this announcement; I thought he would travel to England. This sudden news is unexpected, especially with Rohit’s retirement as well; two senior players have departed – one an opener and the other in the middle order. It’s a bit of a shock for me too. I expected them to go to England and make a decision later,” Ankola shared in an exclusive interview with IANS.

“However, considering these players and Virat knowing himself best, it’s ultimately his decision. You can’t question that. I had hoped to see him reach 10,000 Test runs. I previously predicted he would reach that milestone. Now he finishes just shy of it. But it’s his choice, and I believe everyone should respect it,” Ankola added.

Kohli, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in June 2011, also captained India in 68 matches in the longest format. Under his leadership, India secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia for the first time during the 2018-19 season.

Interestingly, Kohli’s last Test match took place in Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this year, which India lost by six wickets, concluding the series 3-1. During that series, he scored 190 runs over nine innings, including an unbeaten 100 in Perth. Ankola believes Kohli will be remembered among the top Test batters produced by India.

“He can certainly be considered among the top 10 Test batters from Indian cricket. Virat could even make it into the top five, as every once in a while, a player emerges who can score at such a high rate, and his statistics support that claim,” he stated.

“Beyond Tests, he has been a key player in four ICC World Cup Championships and led the Indian team across all formats. He stands as one of the greatest batters we’ve ever seen.”

Kohli has been a strong advocate for Test cricket, emphasizing its significance among the younger audience, while also transforming India’s fitness culture, which significantly impacted their approach to the longer format of the game.

“The level of fitness Virat maintains today could have easily allowed him to continue for another 2-3 or even four years. Every player experiences lean phases, but he has successfully navigated those. Most top cricketers face such slumps, and I believe Virat has overcome his in the past,” he remarked.

“In terms of fitness, he is, if not more so, as fit as a 20-year-old at this moment. Therefore, I thought it might have been a bit premature for him to retire. Another two years of play could have been very feasible for him, given his current fitness. His departure leaves a significant gap because losing two senior players from the batting lineup is concerning,” Ankola added.

Kohli’s retirement announcement followed closely on the heels of Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement. With both veterans stepping away within a week, India faces a substantial challenge as they prepare to travel to England for a five-match Test series commencing on June 20 at Headingley.

“Now, there are numerous youngsters eager for opportunities. However, with two stalwarts retiring in quick succession, we must identify players who can adequately fill their roles, which is a challenging task. It will take time to see if these new players can deliver,” he concluded.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal has performed admirably in the top-order position, and Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are also in the mix. But we are now looking at a younger team heading to England. We must wait and see how the selectors handle this transition. Filling such a significant gap is not easy, especially since this is the first time two senior players have retired within such a short timeframe,” Ankola concluded.