VADODARA – The debate over Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket has reignited just days before India’s ODI series against New Zealand. Despite Kohli’s firm stance that he is now a “one-format player,” his recent scintillating form in ODIs and his first cricket-related social media post in six months have led to a surge of “return to Test” pleas from the cricketing fraternity.
The “Eye” of the Storm: Uthappa’s Viral Take
On Thursday, January 8, Kohli shared snapshots of his training session in Vadodara—his first cricket post since RCB’s maiden IPL title in May 2025 (excluding a congratulatory message to the India Women’s team).
Former India batter Robin Uthappa immediately took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice what many fans are feeling:
“Them eyes tell u a story… Surely it’s time to rescind his Test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket.” — Robin Uthappa
Uthappa’s comments reflect a sentiment that Kohli, at 37, still possesses the “hunger” and fitness to compete in the red-ball format, especially as contemporaries like Joe Root and Steve Smith continue to shatter records.
The Stats: A Giant’s Test Legacy
Kohli stepped away from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, following a challenging Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
| Category | Virat Kohli’s Test Career |
| Matches | 123 |
| Runs | 9,230 |
| Average | 46.85 |
| Centuries | 30 |
| Double Tons | 7 (Most by an Indian) |
| Captaincy | 40 Wins in 68 matches (India’s most successful) |
The Missed Milestone: Kohli finished 770 runs short of the elusive 10,000-run mark in Tests, a figure his “Fab Four” rivals—Root, Smith, and Williamson—have either passed or are fast approaching.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s “Easy Format” Critique
Not everyone is as nostalgic as Uthappa. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar recently expressed disappointment, suggesting Kohli chose the “easiest” path by staying only in ODIs.
- Comparison to Root/Smith: Manjrekar noted that seeing Joe Root (41 Test hundreds) and Steve Smith (37 Test hundreds) excel in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 brings a sense of sadness.
- The “Fight” Factor: Manjrekar argued that Kohli’s supreme fitness meant he could have fought through his technical slump (averaging ~31 in his final five years) rather than walking away.
Kohli’s Firm Stance: “One Form of the Game”
Despite the noise, the man himself remains unmoved. During a recent Player of the Match presentation in the South Africa ODI series, Kohli told commentator Harsha Bhogle:
“Yes, that’s how it’s always going to be. I’m just playing one form of the game.”
What’s Next? Kohli is set to break a massive world record in the upcoming Ind vs NZ ODI series (starting Jan 11). He is just 25 runs away from becoming the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs, potentially beating Sachin Tendulkar’s record.