Is there any chance of Virat Kohli taking back his Test retirement? Looks unlikely, but Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has for sure reignited the talks with his latest remark.
Virat Kohli's coach ignites fresh hopes of legendary Test return
Batting maestro Virat Kohli sent shockwaves through the cricketing world on May 12, 2025, when he officially announced his retirement from Test cricket. His departure brought the curtain down on a magnificent 14-year career in the longest format, spanning from June 2011 to January 2025. Over the course of 123 matches, Kohli amassed an incredible 9,230 runs, cementing his legacy as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Test history. Even now, more than a year after his exit from the format, passionate fans continue to clamor for him to reverse his decision and don the iconic Indian whites once more.
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Amidst these growing calls for a dramatic comeback, Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has provided a major update on the situation. In a video that has recently gone viral across social media platforms, Sharma revealed that he directly discussed the possibility of a Test cricket return with the legendary batter, giving fans a fresh glimpse into where the former captain stands on the matter.
“Many people have told me to ask Virat to return to Test cricket because he listens to you," Rajkumar said.
On being asked about whether he asked Kohli to come out of Test retirement, Rajkumar said:
“We are talking about it; let’s see what happens."
Watch the video here:
Kicking off a stellar 14-year-long career that spanned 123 matches, Kohli marked his Test debut for India against West Indies in June 2011. Widely regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation, he also spearheaded the national team as captain in 60 Tests between 2014 and 2022. Under his fierce leadership, he became India’s most successful captain in the five-day format, famously guiding the team to a historic, first-ever Test series victory on Australian soil during the 2018-19 tour.
However, his illustrious journey in the longest format ended on a quieter note. During his final Test series against Australia, which ran from November 2024 to January 2025, Kohli struggled to find his usual rhythm, managing just 190 runs across nine innings. A significant chunk of that tally came from a single brilliant knock, where he smashed 100 runs in the second innings of the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth.