'Virat Kohli's Test retirement decision shouldn't be revisited': R Ashwin
What's the story
Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has defended Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket earlier than expected. He said that while fans would love to see him back in whites, the decision should be respected. Ashwin stressed that such choices are never made on a whim, and if a player of such stature has chosen to retire, it must be a well-thought-out decision. Notably, Kohli announced a shock retirement from Test cricket in May this year.
Retirement insights
Perspective on retirement decision
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "The decisions we make are always well thought out. Retirement is never an instinctive decision." He was confident that a player of Kohli's caliber would have considered all aspects and bowed out deliberately. The former spinner also highlighted that fans should appreciate the limited time they have to see Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat.
Retirement rationale
Test retirement: A well-considered decision
Ashwin said, "Of course, as fans, we all want to see Virat Kohli play, and that desire is completely natural." The former spinner weighed in on the debate, saying that Kohli's decision wasn't made overnight and should be respected. He said, "Whatever decision we take, it is well thought out. No one decides about retirement overnight."
Retirement confirmation
Will Kohli return to Tests?
As mentioned, Kohli retired from Test cricket in May this year, scoring 9,230 runs from 123 matches at 46.85. Despite India's poor Test performance against South Africa at home, rumors of Kohli being asked to reconsider his decision were quickly dismissed by the man himself. At the post-match presentation, he confirmed that he would continue playing only ODIs, with no thoughts of returning to Tests.
Retirement debate
Ashwin's stance on revisiting retirement decisions
Ashwin also weighed in on the speculations regarding Kohli's return to the Test format. He believes that the decision should not be revisited. "Let's make one thing very clear. The decision has been made; revisiting it is not the right thing to do. The team has also gone into transition, but I will say one thing: let's just enjoy both Virat and Rohit."
Retirement
Early retirement from Test cricket
Kohli had a tough time in Australia during the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series. He could only score 186 runs in five Tests, despite scoring a century in the first match of the series. This poor run of form was seen as a possible factor behind his decision to retire from Test cricket. Although there were reports of Kohli preparing for the England tour, he shut them all down with his retirement decision.