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"Retired Too Early": Virender Sehwag Opposes Virat Kohli's Test Retirement Decision

Rajgeeta Yadav

Virender Sehwag on Virat Kohli's Test retirement [Source: @GarhManmohan and @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]Virender Sehwag on Virat Kohli's Test retirement [Source: @GarhManmohan and @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]

Virat Kohli shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket on May 12. His recent form had been below par, particularly during the series in Australia. Despite this, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly wanted him to be part of the Test team for the upcoming series against England.

Virender Sehwag Thinks Virat Kohli Retired from Test Cricket Too Soon

Kohli, now 36, ended his Test career as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer, amassing 9,230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries. He was close to reaching the milestone of 10,000 Test runs, a goal he had been aiming for, but something made him decide to step away from the format.

However, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag believes Kohli made the decision too soon. 

“His hunger for runs is what makes him different, sets him apart. He follows his routine, his hard work, whether or not he’s making runs," he said.

Sehwag praised Kohli’s fitness, saying that even at 36, Kohli is in better shape than 90% of current players.

“He will leave 90% of players behind in fitness even at 36 years old. I would say because of that, he retired too early in Tests, he could comfortably have played 2 more years,” stated Sehwag.

Though Kohli has stepped back from Test cricket, he will continue playing One Day Internationals (ODIs). Last year, he also announced his retirement from T20 internationals. Interestingly, Kohli did not mention retiring from First-Class or domestic cricket in his statement.

Since BCCI does not allow contracted players to participate in overseas domestic T20 competitions, Kohli could still play in England’s County Championship and the Metro Bank Cup. Middlesex County Cricket Club, which plays at Lord’s, is reportedly interested in signing Kohli. They have previously attracted star players like South Africa’s AB de Villiers and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.

If Kohli joins Middlesex, fans might see him and Williamson playing together at Lord’s, which would undoubtedly boost ticket sales. In 2018, Kohli had planned to play for Surrey before India’s tour of England but had to withdraw due to a neck injury.