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"Please Don’t Retire": Ambati Rayudu Urges Virat Kohli to Continue Playing Tests For India

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Ambati Rayudu and Virat Kohli [Source: @ImTanujSingh, @RayuduAmbati/x.com]Ambati Rayudu and Virat Kohli [Source: @ImTanujSingh, @RayuduAmbati/x.com]

The cricketing world is still trying to catch its breath after news broke that Virat Kohli might hang up his boots in Test cricket. And now, joining the growing list of fans and experts urging him to reconsider is none other than former teammate Ambati Rayudu.

Rayudu Makes An Emotional Pitch To King Kohli

With Rohit Sharma already calling time on his red-ball career, the very idea of Kohli walking away has shaken Indian cricket to the core. And Rayudu, who has shared the dressing room with King Kohli for years, made sure his voice was heard with heart.

Taking to X, Rayudu dropped a heartfelt message, hoping Virat Kohli reconsiders his retirement deicison.

“Virat Kohli please don’t retire… The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you walking out to battle it out for Team India… Please reconsider,” he wrote.

It’s not just about numbers or records. Ambati Rayudu’s plea echoed the sentiment of every Indian fan who has watched Kohli wear his heart on his sleeve for over a decade in the longest format.


A Massive Void If Kohli Steps Away

Reports suggest that Virat Kohli has already informed the BCCI about his decision and won’t be taking part in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. However, top officials aren’t ready to give up just yet.

The board has apparently requested him to hold off and give it a second thought, especially with such a massive home series coming up.

If he follows through, India will suddenly find themselves without both Kohli and Rohit in the Test set-up, two stalwarts who have held the fort for years. That’s a lot of experience and grit to lose in one go.

Kohli’s Test Legacy Still Shines

Even if recent form hasn’t been kind, especially that rough series in Australia where his off-stump woes resurfaced, Virat Kohli’s Test career is nothing short of elite.

In 123 Tests, he has scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds and 31 fifties. He is also arguably India’s most successful Test captain, taking the team to new heights.

Kohli might have struggled in recent red-ball outings, but one mediocre series doesn’t erase a decade of dominance.