Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has advised Virat Kohli to remain committed to the longer format of cricket. Lara shared this message on Instagram after Kohli expressed to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) his desire to retire from Test cricket ahead of the upcoming tour of England.
This decision follows Rohit Sharma's recent announcement of his retirement, and Kohli's intention to step away from Test matches has not been well received by the BCCI, as they want him to continue playing in this format for as long as possible.
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Brain Lara's Optimistic Instagram Post
As news of Kohli's potential retirement spread, Brian Lara took to Instagram to encourage him not to give up Test cricket, stating that "Test cricket needs Virat Kohli." He emphasized that this is a significant moment for Kohli, as a renowned player like Lara is backing him to persist in the longer format.
In his Instagram post, Lara wrote, “Test cricket needs Virat!! He is going to be persuaded. He is NOT going to retire from Test cricket.” He expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to maintain an average above 60 for the remainder of his Test career.
Virat Kohli's outing in Australia
His disappointing performance may influence Kohli's decision to step away in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he scored only 193 runs at an average of 23, with just one century in Adelaide. However, Kohli has a track record of bouncing back and finding ways to overcome challenges. His abrupt announcement to the BCCI has taken many by surprise, especially with India facing England next month.
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In 2024, Kohli retired from T20 Internationals after helping India win the World Cup alongside Rohit Sharma. Despite his recent struggles, Kohli’s form has been remarkable in recent matches, where he scored 505 runs at a strike rate of 143, including seven fifties.
As the BCCI has requested Kohli to reconsider his retirement, he is expected to take his time in making this decision. Stay tuned for updates on Virat Kohli’s retirement saga.
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