As speculations grow louder about Virat Kohli potentially retiring from Test cricket, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has made a passionate plea for the 36-year-old to reconsider and take one final shot at glory in England. He has called Kohli a lion of cricket, and wants Kohli to ‘prove a point’ in Tests again before retiring.
“Go to England, prove a point”: Kaif
Kaif, in a video shared on social media, expressed that Kohli still has unfinished business in red-ball cricket and should not bow out just yet.
“Virat Kohli, Hindustan ka babbar sher, ab araam ke mood me hai. Retirement ki taraf unka zahen ja raha hai. Mujhe lagta he ki who England jaaye, wahan par point prove karke, high note pe khatam kare. Jo kaam T20 World Cup me kiya tha, unchai par khatam kare apna career (Virat Kohli, India’s lion, is in the mood to hang up his boots now. He’s thinking about retirement (from Tests). I feel he should go to England, prove a point and finish his career on a high, similar to what he did at the 2024 T20 World Cup),” Kaif said.
The former batter drew parallels with Kohli’s triumphant swansong in the 2024 T20 World Cup and urged him to sign off in similar fashion in Tests. Despite not playing T20 internationals regularly, Kohli decided to push for the T20 World Cup. He played a match-winning innings in the final and put a full stop on his T20I career.
Test cricket needs Virat Kohli
While the BCCI is reportedly trying to convince Kohli to delay his decision, the numbers underline his stature: 9,230 runs from 123 Tests at 46.85, with 30 centuries. In England, he’s amassed 1,096 runs in 17 matches—two centuries included.
Though his form has dipped, with just one Test ton since July 2023, his presence on the looming five-match England tour could be vital—especially after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.
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