 "Ravichandran Ashwin doesn't expect long-time India teammate Virat Kohli to come out of Test retirement in the twilight of his illustrious career. Reuters")
The possibility of Virat Kohli coming out of retirement in the Test format is a popular topic within Indian cricket circles these days, especially after the star batter’s return to form in his last two appearances. What has also boosted the topic is the crisis that the Indian cricket team currently finds itself in, having suffered two Test whitewashes at home in the span of a year.
The topic had made its way to the post-match presentation ceremony in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi where Virat Kohli – Player of the Match for his 120-ball 135 – confirmed he would continue focusing on one format only after being asked about the possibility of a Test return.
Kohli’s former India teammate Ravichandran Ashwin too shut down discussion surrounding the possibility of the former India captain returning to the five-day format in the near future.
Ashwin urges fans to celebrate Kohli and Rohit ‘as long as they are playing’
The spin legend, who had retired from international cricket in December midway during the tour of Australia, added that fans should enjoy the remainder of Kohli and fellow stalwart Rohit Sharma’s careers, the two seniors limiting their appearances to ODIs after retiring from the T20I and Test formats.
“I will say one thing – how much time we have to watch and enjoy Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat, please let’s do it because once they are done, we could hear talks like ‘oh, what a player he was! Please bring him back’. That doesn’t cut ice for me. For however long they play, let us celebrate them as long as they are playing,” Ashwin said on his YouTube talk show Ash Ki Baat.
“As I said, life moves on very fast. Time does not wait for anyone. It is very important that we realise that the time is less. So it is better that we enjoy whatever they are doing,” he added.
Quick Reads
View AllIt’s not just Ashwin who has shut down discussion on Kohli’s Test comeback; BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also denied rumours of the board attempting to talk him and other seniors out of retirement.
India’s performance in the Test arena has nosedived since former opener Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach in July last year.
India registered clean sweeps at home against Bangladesh and West Indies during this period and held England to a 2-2 on their own turf. However, they have lost five Tests in a row against New Zealand and South Africa at home – 0-3 against the Black Caps and 0-2 against the Proteas .
Thanks to the series loss against South Africa, India now finds itself in danger of missing out on the ICC World Test Championship final for the second consecutive time in 2027, with the Shubman Gill-led side not playing another five-day game until their tour of Sri Lanka in August.