Mohammed Kaif Urges Virat Kohli to Reconsider Test Retirement Amid "Helplessness" Concerns

 

As speculation swirls around Virat Kohli’s potential retirement from Test cricket, former India batter Mohammed Kaif has stepped forward, encouraging Kohli to rethink his decision. Just days after Rohit Sharma announced the end of his own Test career, ESPNcricinfo reported that Kohli had communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his desire to step away from the longest format. With India gearing up for an important five-match Test series against England, the BCCI has reportedly urged Kohli to reconsider and delay his decision. However, as of now, Kohli has not made his final stance clear to the board.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kaif made a passionate appeal, suggesting that if Kohli has indeed decided to call time on his Test career, he should bow out in style by playing the upcoming England series. Kaif further elaborated on the possible reasons behind Kohli contemplating retirement, if the reports prove accurate.

"Virat Kohli, India’s Babbar Sher, wants to relax. He is thinking about retirement. I believe he should go to England, prove his point, and finish his career on a high note. Given the stellar work he did in the T20 World Cup, he deserves to end his career on a good note. Is he contemplating retirement out of helplessness? Because for many years, there’s been one kind of delivery that has troubled him — the ball bowled outside the off stump," Kaif said in a video shared on X.

If Kohli does decide to step away, it would mark the end of an illustrious 14-year Test career. Over the course of 123 Tests, he has amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. Kohli is also India’s most successful Test captain, having won 40 of the 68 matches he led.

Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli enjoyed what many consider one of the finest purple patches in modern Test history. In 43 Tests, he accumulated 4,208 runs at an average of 66.79, slamming 16 centuries and 10 half-centuries in 69 innings. His form during this period helped cement his status as one of the leading ambassadors of Test cricket.

However, since 2020, Kohli’s form in Tests has been inconsistent. Across 39 Tests, he has scored 2,028 runs at an average of just 30.72, with three centuries and nine half-centuries in 69 innings. A standout phase came in 2023, where he amassed 671 runs in eight Tests at an impressive average of 55.91, including two centuries and two fifties. Yet, 2024 proved to be a challenging year — Kohli managed just 382 runs in 10 Tests at a disappointing average of 22.47, registering one century and one fifty in 19 innings. His last Test outing was during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia between November and January, where he managed 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75. His century at Perth stood out, marking his first hundred since July 2023 against the West Indies at Port of Spain.

While the cricketing world debates Kohli’s future in Test cricket, attention is also firmly fixed on the ongoing Tata IPL 2025, where players are vying for playoff spots and individual glory. As fans stay glued to thrilling contests, platforms like Winexch continue to be at the forefront, offering live streaming and exciting engagement opportunities for fans eager to follow every twist and turn of the season.

Looking ahead, the upcoming fixtures promise to be pivotal for teams such as Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings, who are battling for a spot in the top four. Accurate Tata IPL 2025 match predictions have become essential for fans and enthusiasts keeping track of playoff scenarios. Key players to watch include Virat Kohli, who despite Test retirement talks, has remained influential in the IPL, alongside stars like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Hardik Pandya, and KL Rahul, who continue to shape their teams’ fortunes.

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With crucial matches lined up at venues like Wankhede Stadium, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, and Eden Gardens, pitch and weather conditions will also play a decisive role in influencing outcomes. For those seeking reliable Tata IPL 2025 match predictions, analyzing head-to-head records, recent team form, and injury updates becomes indispensable.

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As the season edges closer to its business end, Winexch not only offers live streaming but also provides real-time stats, insights, and match predictions, keeping fans ahead of the game. Whether you are tracking Royal Challengers Bangalore’s playoff push or evaluating Chennai Super Kings' late surge, platforms like Winexch help enhance the IPL viewing experience by providing in-depth information and seamless access to all matches.

Meanwhile, the cricketing fraternity waits for clarity on Kohli’s Test future. If Mohammed Kaif’s words hold any sway, fans might yet get to see Kohli in whites one final time in England — perhaps offering a fitting conclusion to one of Indian cricket’s most storied Test careers.