Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket last year came as a shock to the cricketing community. Many believed he still had a lot to contribute in the longest format of the game. The announcement came during IPL 2025, a time when concerns over his red-ball form were growing. A challenging tour of Australia had revealed persistent struggles with balls outside the off-stump, leading to heightened scrutiny. In an effort to find his rhythm again, Kohli even returned to the Ranji Trophy, but consistent runs continued to elude him. Faced with mounting expectations and relentless pressure, he ultimately chose to step away, bringing a remarkable era of Test cricket to a close.
Across 123 Tests, Kohli accumulated 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a highest score of 254*. Since making his debut in 2011, he combined a fearless mindset with remarkable consistency, guiding India to historic victories and earning the distinction of the country’s most successful Test captain.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who shared the dressing room with Kohli for years, revealed that he had personally encouraged the former captain to continue, believing there was still more to achieve in Test cricket.
“I told him straight that he still had more to give in Test cricket. There was something left in Test cricket, but that’s fine. Honestly, India has an issue with how it perceives things,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. (15:00)
Reflecting on Kohli’s decision to retire, Ashwin highlighted his team-first mentality, principled approach, and the difficult choice it took to step away from the red-ball format.
“He has retired, but if you consider Virat’s values and principles, he has always put the team first. Even in press conferences, he would emphasize that the team’s success comes before everything else. For him to decide to retire, and then consider a comeback, is not an easy choice. Still, I genuinely believe he had more cricket left in him,” he added.
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