 "Virat Kohli is clearly not making a U-turn on his decision to retire from Test cricket. Images: PTI")
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refuted the rumours that Virat Kohli could be asked to reverse his Test retirement after two whitewash defeats at home in the last 12 months. After New Zealand trounced India 3-0 last year, South Africa scripted a 2-0 win last month, raising concerns regarding India’s declining prowess in Test cricket.
Amid the downfall, popular cricket website Cricbuzz reported that a section in the BCCI is pondering asking Kohli to reverse his Test retirement decision . Kohli retired from Test cricket earlier this year in May, just ahead of the England tour.
Kohli hung up his boots in Test cricket after playing in 123 matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He smashed 30 hundreds and 31 fifties.
BCCI refutes Kohli and Test cricket rumours
While India initially did well in his absence, playing out a 2-2 draw in England in a five-match Test series, the series defeat at home to South Africa has set alarm bells ringing, giving rise to rumours that the BCCI may soon approach Kohli, their most successful Test captain, once again, requesting a U-turn.
However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has strongly refuted the rumours, adding that the board has not held any discussion with Kohli.
“What’s being said about Virat Kohli is just a rumour. There has been no conversation with Kohli about this. Do not give weight to rumours. Nothing of that sort has happened,” Devajit Saikia told AajTak on Sunday (30 November).
Kohli himself refuted the rumours when Harsha Bhogle asked him about the possibility of playing two formats in the future after he made a match-winning hundred against South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi on Sunday.
Quick Reads
View AllAt the post-match presentation ceremony, Bhogle tried to clear the rumours by asking Kohli whether he could make a return to any of the formats that he has retired from, including Tests and T20Is. In reply, Kohli said: “That’s how it’s always going to be - I’m just playing one form of the game.”
While fans would be disappointed that Kohli would not be returning to Test cricket, his rip-roaring 52nd ODI century in Ranchi was proof enough that the 37-year-old most likely would be part of the Indian squad in the 2027 ODI World Cup.