Virat Kohli, one of India’s top batsmen, announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week, and he was spotted sharing a warm moment with Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, before a practice session. This comes just before the IPL 2025 kicks off with an exciting match between Kolkata and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 17.
Rahane hasn’t played in India’s Test team for the last two years, and with Kohli stepping away, it really feels like a significant chapter in Indian cricket has closed. The two cricketers were seen batting together during their teams’ training at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, chatting and enjoying a side hug before parting ways, both smiling.
This reunion happened after a tough week for Indian cricket, with the IPL put on hold for seven days due to tensions related to Pakistan. Thankfully, with a ceasefire in place and things calming down, the BCCI announced that IPL 2025 could resume, bringing some relief to teams and fans alike.
Kohli’s retirement news took many by surprise. Over his Test career, he played 123 matches and scored 9,230 runs with an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. He led India to 40 wins in 68 Tests, the most by any Indian captain. Former India coach Ravi Shastri remarked that when Kohli committed to something, he really gave it his all, which is hard to match.
Even though Kohli was a strong advocate for Test cricket and had great success as a captain, his performance has dipped over the past five years, with his average dropping from the high 50s. Shubman Gill is being seen as a potential new leader as Rohit Sharma stepped back last week. With Ravichandran Ashwin also retiring mid-series against Australia, the Indian team is moving through a big change.
On Saturday, RCB will face KKR, and a win for RCB will secure their spot in the playoffs.
