Here’s why Virat Kohli shouldn’t retire from Test cricket

With the upcoming five-Test series in England, India may be walking into battle without its most seasoned warrior. Virat Kohli, arguably the most influential figure in Indian cricket over the past decade, has informed the BCCI of his desire to retire from Test cricket. If he follows through, it would definitely signal the end of an era. But here’s the truth: India cannot afford to let Kohli walk away. Not now. Not when they need him the most.

There’s a reason why the BCCI has been taken by surprise by Kohli’s decision. Even it knows the value that Kohli carries, a national treasure for sure. Unlike Rohit Sharma, whose decision seemed sensible at first, Kohli’s desire to leave the format he loves leaves everyone in a state of disbelief.

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India need Virat Kohli, the dressing room leader

With Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin already stepping away from Test cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane out of the picture, and Mohammed Shami still finding his feet after injury, Indian cricket is clearly entering a period of transition.

It’s a shift that was always going to come—but transitions are rarely smooth without a few experienced hands to steady the ship. In a squad that may soon be led by Shubman Gill (reportedly), Kohli’s presence would’ve been more than just valuable. He wasn’t just a world-class batter—he was a leader in every sense, someone who could anchor a young Test team, especially in the challenging conditions of an English summer.

England tour without Kohli is incomplete

Looking from a short-term perspective, India would desperately need Virat Kohli in the ensuing five-match series in England. While critics point to Kohli’s modest average of 32.56 in Tests over the last two years, one cannot overlook the fact that he remains India’s fourth-highest Test run scorer in England with 1,096 runs in 17 matches. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar stand ahead. All this is incredible, especially after he had a tumbling 2014 series in England early in his career. But the 2018 fightback was real.

Unlike many of his peers, Kohli’s runs in England have often come under challenging situations, particularly his heroic 593-run haul in 2018. He is also second only to Dravid in international runs scored in England among Indians, with 2,637 runs across formats.

Still the fittest, still the fiercest

Here comes the most obvious point: Kohli remains India’s fittest cricketer and, arguably, one of the fittest in world cricket. At 36, he moves like a 26-year-old. Unlike Rohit, who still received remarks over his fitness after his retirement, Kohli has developed himself as possibly the greatest athlete in Indian cricket.

Whether it’s a sharp single in the middle overs or a flying catch at slip, he sets the benchmark. Youngsters idolise his discipline and professionalism. A player of that pedigree cannot be judged solely by a short-term dip in numbers.

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Besides, he’s looked in sublime touch in IPL 2025. With 505 runs from 11 innings at an average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46, Kohli has shown zero signs of decline. His seven half-centuries are the most in the tournament so far. If anything, this version of Kohli is one of clarity—exactly the kind you want walking out at Lord’s in June.

Kohli shouldn’t say bye …yet

He may not say it aloud, but the numbers quietly whisper that there’s one last chapter left to write. He’s about 900 runs away from overtaking Sunil Gavaskar as the country’s third-highest run-scorer in Test history. He’s also less than 800 runs away from the magnanimous 10,000-run mark. He’s a single hundred away from hitting 31 in the format, a mark only a handful have reached.

Most Test runs for India

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