'He didn't quite put his heart and soul into finding out the problems': Virat Kohli questioned again over quitting Tests

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has once again questioned Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket, saying it left him disappointed, especially at a time when Kohli’s contemporaries continue to shine in the longest format.

Manjrekar’s comments came after England star Joe Root scored his 41st Test century, further strengthening his place among the modern greats of the game. Australian skipper Steve Smith also raised his bat for the 37th time in Tests in the same match, the ongoing fifth Ashes in Sydney.

However, Kohli has stepped away from the format and only represents India in One-Day Internationals. Speaking in a video shared on his Instagram account, Manjrekar said it was unfortunate that Kohli chose to quit Tests instead of trying harder to fix the issues in his game.

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He pointed out that Kohli struggled for nearly five years in the format, averaging just 31 during that period, but did not seem to fully commit to finding solutions before hanging up his boots.

“Well, as Joe Root attains new heights in Test cricket, my mind goes to Virat Kohli. He’s walked away from Tests, and it’s unfortunate that in the five years that he struggled before retiring, he didn’t quite put his heart and soul into finding out the problems as to why he was averaging 31 for five years in Tests. That is for another time as to what he could have done. But I just feel sad that people like Joe Root and Steve Smith, Kane Williamson are really making a name for themselves in Test Cricket,” Manjrekar said.

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Manjrekar says Kohli’s decision to stick with the ’easiest format’ disappoints him

Manjrekar also said his disappointment increased because Kohli continues to play ODIs, which he described as the “easiest format” for a top-order batter. According to him, Test cricket is the true test of a player’s technique and temperament, while T20s also come with challenges.

“It was okay, Virat Kohli just walked away from cricket, retired from all cricket. But that he’s chosen to play one-day cricket actually disappoints me more, because this is a format which, for a top-order batter, I’ve said before as well, is the easiest format.”

The former India cricketer felt Kohli still had enough fitness to continue fighting for a place in the Test team. He suggested that Kohli could have gone back to domestic or first-class cricket, played more matches in tough conditions like England and Australia, and then come back.

“The format that really tests you is first, obviously, Test Cricket, and T20 cricket has its different challenges. The other thing is because he’s so fit, supremely fit, you feel even more that he could have maybe continued his fight, you know, to get back into form, even if he was left out of a series, he could have maybe gone down to first-class cricket, played in Australia, England, more matches in India, tried to make another comeback,” added Manjrekar.

Manjrekar added that watching Root and Smith score heavily in Test cricket makes him think of Kohli with a sense of sadness. While he acknowledged that retirement is a personal choice, he said Kohli’s exit from Tests felt abrupt, especially given how passionately he once spoke about the importance of the format.

“That could have made me truly happy. Obviously, that’s his call, his choice. But yeah, when Joe Root gets hundreds or gets runs, or Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, my mind goes to Virat Kohli with a sense of disappointment and a little bit of sadness, because he cared so much for Test Cricket, didn’t he?” he concluded.