Virat Kohli announces retirement from Tests, ending 14-year-long career

India Today

Indian star batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, May 12, concluding a stellar 14-year journey in the format. The 36-year-old broke the news via Instagram, just ahead of India’s upcoming five-Test series against England, starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.

Transcript

00:00The news now coming in from sports.

00:03One of India's best players, Virat Kohli, has announced retirement from Test Cricket.

00:10Now, we are told that at this juncture, that he would decide to possibly continue with the ODI.

00:18We'll try and get more details on this.

00:20But Virat Kohli announcing retirement.

00:22Remember, in the past few days, we have seen, for example, whether it's Rohit Sharma, other cricket players as well,

00:28constantly announcing retirement from one format or another.

00:33But for now, Virat Kohli has announced Test Retirement.

00:37Big news coming in.

00:39Days after, India's captain Rohit Sharma also decided to end the Test career, though ODIs will continue.

00:44We are told that Virat Kohli has communicated to the BCCI about his intention to retire from this one format of the Test Cricket.

00:52Remember, in the next few days, we're expecting India is set to tour England for a five-test series very soon.

00:57So, could that be his last series or is he done?

01:02Does this announcement mean that we will not be witnessing Virat Kohli play the Test tournaments?

01:08Only the ODIs for now.

01:10But, or could there be this series with England?

01:14That could continue.

01:15That could be the last one that we'll see.

01:16So, we'll try and get some clarity on that.

01:19But, clearly, I'm sure other players, as they're putting out statements already, they are urging him to possibly reconsider for now.

01:28But, remember, for Virat Kohli, it's been an illustrious Test career.

01:3114 years, over 9,000 runs, 123 tests, average of 46.5, 30 centuries.

01:39So, he's definitely been able to make a huge mark.

01:42One of the young players when he had started.

01:45His batting skills, of course, much awaited when he takes to the pitch.

01:49So, that's something, of course, that is going to be remembered for his contribution.

01:54But, I'll be curious to know if he's done undusted with Test or possibly could that continue at least for one last series.

02:02And that's what the announcement has been.

02:042016 to 2019, remember, was Virat enjoying one of the biggest primes in the history of this longest format?

02:11He's had good innings when it comes to Test in the past few years.

02:17Nikhil Naas joins me for the latest on that.

02:20Nikhil, just days after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli following suit.

02:24Tell me more about this.

02:25Test cricket and why?

02:26And tell us, does this mean he's done?

02:28Are we looking at him performing and playing in the England series?

02:33Yes, he is.

02:34So, retirement, firstly, Pooja, is immediate.

02:38Remember, Virat Kohli has already retired from the T20 format.

02:42And now he's decided to hang up his boot when it comes to the Test format as well.

02:48So, as of now, he's said that, you know, he enjoyed playing Test cricket for 14 years.

02:53But he gave it all.

02:54It's a format that tested him.

02:56It's a format that he enjoyed.

02:58But he feels that it's the end of the road for him when it comes to Test cricket.

03:02That is not to say that you're not going to be seeing Virat Kohli don the Indian jersey.

03:07That does not mean that you will not be seeing Virat Kohli at the top level.

03:11Of course, he said it before that he'll continue to play T20 cricket in which you will see him in the IPL.

03:16Of course, he doesn't play international T20 cricket.

03:18And he has also expressed his desire to continue playing ODI cricket is what I'm learning.

03:23So, he'll continue to play ODI cricket.

03:25And remember, India also has to play a Test match going forward.

03:28So, I beg your pardon, a World Cup going forward.

03:31So, that is something that he'd be looking to do as well.

03:34But yes, Test cricket at the moment, he says he's done with.

03:37And, you know, there are various reasons that you can look at.

03:40And this is something that we've been tracking for the last few days.

03:43We had learnt it, that this is something that he had told the selectors a couple of weeks ago.

03:48That he was contemplating Test retirement.

03:51And there is a history to that as well.

03:53Now, Virat Kohli has been an absolute legend, Pooja, as we know, in all formats of the game.

03:58One of the rare players, a player that averages close to 50 across all formats.

04:03But his average dropped below 50 in Test match cricket, owing to his performances in the last few years.

04:11Even though he had a few good performances, a few hundreds in the last five years or so.

04:17But overall, if you take a look at his performances, average would drop to…

04:21Yes, stay on with me because already reaction is coming in.

04:23I'm joined on the phone line by Madhan Laat, the 1983 cricket team veteran as well.

04:29Nikhil, why don't you take a question from Mr. Madhan Laat?

04:31Madhan Sir, firstly, what do you make of Virat's retirement?

04:37Do you think it's come at the right time or could he have continued a little bit more?

04:42See, the retirement is a very personal decision.

04:46I don't know what is the reason he has taken in.

04:49If he could have waited for an England series, that could have been better

04:53because they are playing a very important series, coming series in England.

04:56But he's done very well and he's been a legend.

05:01He must be, you know, playing too much cricket and all, like, sometimes.

05:07You know, it gets on to you.

05:08You know, now he's concerned.

05:10We will concentrate on 50 over only.

05:12So, the reason, I don't know.

05:14There must be, he knows better than anybody else.

05:17Yes, so, very aptly put there by Mr. Madhan Laat, who's on the line with us.

05:23He says that retirement is a very personal decision.

05:26And that's something, if you were to read on that post that he's put on social media,

05:30you can very well make out that this is something that he contemplated about.

05:34This is something that he thought about.

05:36And after careful consideration, he's arrived at this particular discussion

05:41or at this particular decision.

05:43Madhan Laat stayed with us.

05:45Madhan said, do you think that the fact that his fortunes had dipped in the last five years or so

05:52with the bat, we know, you know, we'd been discussing his form

05:55and you yourself had been watching it, discussing it as an analyst,

05:59the troubles that he was having with the ball that is outside the off-stumb,

06:03not being able to cope with that.

06:04Do you think all that has played a role in him arriving at this decision?

06:09I don't think so.

06:11Virat Kohli being a legend, you know, these are the small, small mistakes, you know.

06:14And, you know, like in international cricket,

06:17if the opponent come to know that this is a weakness of the great batsman,

06:26they will keep on bowling you.

06:28And at the same spot, Virat Kohli has scored so many runs,

06:32so many centuries, and definitely he must have thought about it with the family

06:38or everybody, you know, for four or five years, you know, sorry, four or five months.

06:43Then I came to the conclusion that that's it, you know, no more touch cricket, you know.

06:48Because, you know, like, you know, it's not about touch cricket,

06:51it's travelling, day and day out, practising, day and day, you know,

06:56dealing with your fans, the pressure of the fans.

07:01There's a lot of things, you know, like, when you are, you know, status like Virat Kohli.

07:06So, but not any technical...

07:08But, Azhar, test cricketer, that you'll think fans will remember about Virat Kohli.

07:13And do you think that this retirement call has come just in time?

07:17That he knew it's the time to hang up on boots when it comes to test cricket, at least?

07:23He could have played, you know, like, another series, one or two series.

07:27But, again, you know, that's what he thought about it,

07:31and that's why he had taken the retirement.

07:33I'm sure, you know, like I said in the beginning,

07:36he should have waited for it till England series, you know,

07:39because that's a very modern series, you know.

07:42Ranalji, thank you very much for your views and perspective.

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