Virat Kohli’s Test Comeback?: After another tough loss to South Africa on their own turf, India’s Test setup has once again come under scrutiny. And with that, conversations have naturally drifted back to one name fans can’t stop thinking about: Virat Kohli. According to a fresh Cricbuzz report, the Indian team management may even be considering the idea of recalling recently retired stars for short stints to steady the ship.
The past year hasn’t been kind to India in red-ball cricket. They missed the World Test Championship Final, saw senior players step aside, lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and even had their incredible home dominance broken. While much of the blame has fallen on the coach and the management, many believe the constant chopping and changing in the batting order has played a major part in the decline.
Rethinking Virat Kohli’s Test Retirement
Virat Kohli shocked fans earlier when he announced his retirement from Test cricket, following Rohit Sharma’s exit from the format. Despite an outstanding career, he bowed out before reaching the 10,000-run milestone.
At the time, the Indian management didn’t push back. They quickly handed Shubman Gill the captaincy and began experimenting with Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan. But neither batter has cemented the crucial No. 3 spot. Sudharsan, in particular, has struggled to make meaningful runs whether playing at home or abroad.
Now, Cricbuzz reports that the team is open to the idea of bringing recently retired legends back for short phases to regain stability. It’s a thought that has definitely caught fans’ attention.
Read More
Will Virat Kohli Even Want a Test Return?
Even if the selectors do consider reaching out to Kohli, there’s no guarantee he’ll accept. Since leaving the format, he’s made it clear he wants to enjoy a calmer life with his family. Kohli has kept mostly out of the spotlight, appearing only during the Australia and South Africa series. And although he once called Test cricket his favorite format, he stepped away on his own terms, without any drama.
He has said he feels “a new kind of energy” after taking a long break from the game. These days, he only features in ODIs for India and continues playing in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Read More
Virat Kohli’s Test Legacy
Across 123 Test matches, the 37-year-old former India captain scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. He also holds the record for the most Test double-hundreds by an Indian. His peak years from 2014 to 2019 were extraordinary, but his numbers dipped after the World Test Championship began, and he couldn’t quite match his earlier dominance.
Whether or not he returns, Kohli’s impact on India’s Test cricket will always be immense. For now, though, the big question remains: will India’s search for experience tempt their former star back into whites, even if only for a short spell?
