New Delhi [India]: In a heartfelt plea to his former teammate, Ambati Rayudu has urged Virat Kohli to reconsider his reported decision to retire from Test cricket. The emotional note comes amid widespread reports that Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his intention to step away from the longest format.
Rayudu, who played alongside Kohli across formats for India, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his sentiments.
“Virat Kohli, please don’t retire. The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you walking out to battle it out for Team India… Please reconsider,” wrote the 39-year-old.
The reports emerge just two days after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, a move that has already left a leadership and experience void in the squad. India is set to begin its ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign with a five-match away series against England, starting June 20 at Headingley.
If Kohli does decide to retire, it would mark the conclusion of a stellar 14-year Test career, in which he has amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. He also holds the distinction of being India’s most successful Test captain, leading the team to 40 victories in 68 matches as skipper.
The potential departure of Kohli would add to the exodus of senior players in the format. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin retired during India’s tour of Australia last year, while Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have been absent from the Test setup for some time. Senior pacer Mohammed Shami continues to struggle with form and fitness following a lengthy injury layoff.
With Rohit gone, Kohli remains one of the last pillars of India’s previous Test golden generation, alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah.
Kohli’s recent Test form, however, has been underwhelming. On the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia (November–January), he managed just 190 runs in nine innings, averaging 23.75. His lone bright spot was a century in Perth, his first since July 2023, when he scored a hundred against the West Indies in Port of Spain.
While the BCCI has yet to issue an official statement, Kohli’s future in Tests now hangs in the balance—one that fans, teammates, and legends alike hope still includes him donning the whites.