Virat Kohli could’ve waited till England series before retiring: Madan Lal

India Today

Former India fast bowler Madan Lal feels that star India batter Virat Kohli could've waited till the England tour to announce his retirement from Test cricket. Kohli called time on his Test career after playing 123 games and scoring 9230 runs.

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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