Virat Kohli should have continued playing Test cricket until he had nothing to give: Former RCB wicketkeeper

Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Sydney Seshibedi – Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Virat Kohli bid farewell to Test cricket earlier this year and is currently representing India in the ODI format only. However, the Best Emerging Player award winner in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, Shreevats Goswami, opined that Virat Kohli should have continued playing Test cricket and retired from ODIs.

Goswami’s remarks come amid India’s struggles during the home Test series against South Africa. The Men in Blue lost the first Test at Eden Gardens by 30 runs and are being outplayed in the ongoing second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. If they fail to win the second Test, which seems very likely, this will be their second Test series defeat at home in the last 13 months. They had been whitewashed 0-3 by New Zealand in October-November 2024.

Goswami noted that Kohli’s energy and passion while playing for the Indian Test team rubbed off on his fellow players and helped them achieve success. The former wicketkeeper-batter said that the winning mentality and fire Kohli had in him is missing in the current crop of players.

“Ideally, Virat should have left playing ODIs & continued playing Test cricket until he had nothing to give. Test cricket misses him. Not just as a player but just the energy he brought, the love & passion playing for India where he made the team believe that they can win in any condition,” Goswami wrote on social media.

“The winning mentality & that fire which was there under Virat Kohli feels missing in this team,” the 36-year-old added.

Kohli finished with 9230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the longest format. The right-handed batter is also the most successful Test captain for India in terms of matches won.

The 37-year-old is all set to return to international cricket during the three-match ODI series against the Proteas, starting on Sunday, November 30.

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