Credit: BCCI
In May 2025, Team India witnessed their two legends retiring from Test cricket within a week. Rohit Sharma hung up his Test boots on May 7 while following him, Virat Kohli also brought the curtain down on his distinguished red-ball career on May 12. Both veterans were expected to serve India in the upcoming five-match Test series in England but they decided to conclude their tenure with India’s Test side. Kohli, whose Test batting record hasn’t been impressive in England, struggled to be among the runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 but his fans were optimistic that he will make a solid comeback in the England series. However, he announced his retirement and shocked his supporters.
Reacting to Kohli’s Test retirement, Team India’s former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has said Rohit and Kohli made massive contributions on the field but once they realised they couldn’t offer their best to India’s Test side, they took a selfless decision to leave the format. "Virat didn't have five years of test cricket left in him. You knew that, right? Their individual battles that they fought, they must have realised that it was time," said Paras in his recent interview with Hindustan Times.
He also added, “They always say how valuable they could be in their contribution. And, sometimes, it's the motivation bit. Maybe they were not as motivated to play that format. They'll not be able to give their best to that format. That's the way they approach. So, very selfless approach, both of them.”
Virat Kohli’s next appearance in international cricket
Virat Kohli supporters will get a chance to see him in India’s jersey in August, when the Men in Blue will play three One-Day Internationals (ODI) against Najmul Hossain Shanto’s team in Bangladesh from August 17 to 23. In 2022, when India toured Bangladesh for three ODIs, the hosts scripted history by beating Rohit Sharma’s team for the second time in a 50-over series.
Kohli also struggled with his bat in the initial two ODIs, which led to India’s defeat in the series. The veteran smashed a ton in the third ODI but before that innings, he scored only 14 runs in two contests. This time, the batting maestro will look to be at his best to help India vanquish the home side in an ODI competition in their backyard after 11 years.
