Virat Kohli’s recent retirement from Test cricket, just days before the Indian squad for the England Tour was announced, has caught everyone’s attention. After a tough Border Gavaskar Trophy where he scored 190 runs over five matches with an average of 23.75, many were curious about his future in cricket. Kohli made it official in an Instagram post on Monday, saying goodbye to the Test format.
Former India cricketer and national selector Sarandeep Singh, who also coaches the Delhi team, shared his surprise at Kohli’s announcement. Earlier in the year, he had worked with Kohli during a Ranji Trophy match and didn’t see this coming. Sarandeep recalled their last conversation, saying, There was no hint of retirement. Just days ago, we were talking, and he didn’t mention anything about that. He’s been in great form in the IPL.
Sarandeep had even asked Kohli if he planned to play County cricket before the Tests, and Kohli expressed his desire to play two India ‘A’ matches beforehand. Everything seemed set until the shocking news came out that he would stop playing in the red-ball format. According to Sarandeep, there are no fitness concerns or form issues; Kohli was simply not satisfied with his performance despite scoring a century in Australia. He had expressed his goal to score multiple centuries in England, being the senior player in the team.
When asked if he noticed any signs of Kohli retiring during the recent Ranji Trophy match, Sarandeep said, Not at all. He was fully focused on playing Test cricket. We were talking about the upcoming England series, and he was eager to play. He added that Kohli wanted to be well prepared and perform well like he did in 2018 when he had a great outing in England.
Now, with Kohli’s departure, the Indian Test team faces a challenge, especially with such a tough England tour ahead. His absence leaves a notable gap in experience as the team prepares for the upcoming matches.
