Retirement rumors stir, but Virat Kohli plans to play until this big tournament
Virat Kohli’s future in Test cricket remains uncertain. After struggling throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, many question whether his career can rebound. The 36-year-old has endured a tough patch, getting dismissed for the eighth time in nine innings by edging deliveries to the slip cordon or keeper. He faced a back-of-length delivery on the sixth-stump line from Scott Boland in the fifth Test against Australia, a dismissal that seemed to highlight the mental block Kohli now faces.
His struggles seem more mental than technical. Kohli’s dismissals, especially on the corridor of uncertainty, have become repetitive. In nine innings across five Tests, he only managed a century in the second innings at Perth and 36 runs in the first innings at Melbourne.
Without those innings, he has accumulated a mere 54 runs in the remaining seven knocks. This phase represents the lowest point in his career, and for a champion player, deciding whether to continue or retire is difficult during such times.
However, Kohli remains determined to continue his career. He reportedly has no plans to retire and is focused on playing until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Former India coach Ravi Shastri is confident that Kohli will carry on, but some former selectors have raised concerns about his preparation for the upcoming tours.
One former selector questioned how Kohli could make a case for selection for the England tour without playing red-ball cricket. He argued that selecting Kohli based on IPL form would be unjustifiable.
Despite this, Kohli has not indicated any interest in participating in the Ranji Trophy, which resumes on January 23. His state team, Delhi, is scheduled to play Saurashtra in Rajkot during the first round. Following that, Delhi will face Railways.
However, Kohli’s focus is likely on upcoming international assignments, including the ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy in early 2024, followed by the IPL. With such a packed schedule, playing red-ball cricket seems impractical.
As a prominent IPL player and captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kohli is unlikely to skip the tournament to play county cricket in England. His dream of winning an IPL title before retirement adds further motivation. Still, the option of playing in India A matches before the senior team’s England tour remains a possibility, allowing him to prepare for the upcoming Tests.
For now, it appears Kohli’s last Test was at the SCG. However, given his stature in the game, there is always a possibility of a twist in his cricketing tale.
