Former West Indies legend Brian Lara has urged Virat Kohli not to retire from Test cricket. On Saturday, it was reported that Kohli, 36, had informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his intention to retire from the longest format.
However, a senior BCCI official spoke to Kohli, encouraging him to reconsider his decision. In an Instagram post, Brian Lara, the only batter to score 400 in a Test innings, expressed confidence that Kohli could maintain an average above 60 for the remainder of his Test career.
Lara wrote, “Test cricket needs Virat!! He is going to be persuaded. He is NOT going to retire from Test cricket. @virat.kohli is going to average above 60 for the remainder of his Test career.”
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Virat Kohli faced a challenging tour of Australia during the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy. While he scored a century in the second innings of the opening Test in Perth, helping India to a 295-run victory, his form declined thereafter, and India lost the series 1-3, suffering defeats in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney.
Rohit Sharma Retires, India Faces Captaincy Dilemma for England Tour
Recently, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending an 11-year career. With Rohit stepping down, India now faces the task of selecting a new captain for the upcoming England tour.
If Kohli decides to retire, India will face a significant challenge in finding a suitable replacement, especially in English conditions, which are tough for batters. India has recently slipped to fourth in the ICC Test rankings and failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final in June.
As they look to bounce back, India will aim to start the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle on a strong note in the series opener against England, starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.
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