West Indies batting great Brian Lara has voiced his support for Virat Kohli amid strong reports that the Indian maestro is contemplating retirement from Test cricket.
Virat Kohli reportedly communicates test retirement decision to BCCI
According to several media reports, Kohli has made up his mind to step away from Test cricket and has already informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his decision. This surprising development comes just a month before India’s five-Test series against England, scheduled to begin on June 20.The 36-year-old batter is believed to be reassessing his future across formats, especially after a period of red-ball inconsistency and an already flourishing white-ball career.
While no official statement has been released by either Kohli or the BCCI, reports suggest that board officials have requested him to reconsider his decision, given the immense importance of the upcoming tour and the absence of several other senior players. The England series was expected to be a significant opportunity for Kohli to reaffirm his stature in red-ball cricket. However, with the player leaning toward retirement, it may well mark the end of an era.
Brian Lara throws weight behind Kohli amid speculation on his test career
Taking to Instagram, Lara dismissed the retirement chatter and instead predicted a strong second wind in Kohli’s red-ball career. “Cricket needs Virat!! He is going to be persuaded. He is NOT going to retire from Test cricket. @virat.kohli is going to average above 60 for the remainder of his Test career,” Lara wrote in a bold and optimistic statement. The legendary left-hander, who has seen generations of greats walk away from the format, believes that Kohli still has a vital role to play in shaping the future of Test cricket, not just for India, but globally. His endorsement could be a timely morale booster for Kohli as the cricketing world absorbs the magnitude of the news.
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Kohli’s contribution to Indian Test cricket transcends numbers and records. Since making his debut in 2011, he has been the face of India’s red-ball renaissance. As captain, he brought an aggressive, fast-bowling-centric approach that redefined India’s attitude, especially in overseas conditions. Under his leadership, India won back-to-back series in Australia and reached the top of the ICC Test rankings multiple times. Kohli’s presence in the middle order has often been the psychological edge India wielded over their opponents. His retirement, if it materializes, would not just be the end of a prolific batter’s journey, but also the conclusion of a significant philosophical shift that shaped India’s Test identity for more than a decade.
Kohli’s struggles in red-ball cricket spark retirement talks
While Kohli’s white-ball form has been spectacular, especially in the IPL 2025, where he crossed the 500-run mark before the tournament was suspended—his Test performances have painted a more troubling picture. During India’s last red-ball assignment, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in 2024–25, Kohli began strongly with a gritty unbeaten century in the second innings at Perth.
However, the spark faded quickly as he accumulated just 90 runs in his remaining eight innings, failing to cross the 36-run mark even once. These underwhelming numbers have dragged down his overall Test average to 46.85, a sharp decline for someone who once hovered near the elite 55-mark. In an attempt to regain rhythm, Kohli also returned to the Ranji Trophy earlier this year, representing Delhi. But the comeback proved short-lived, as he managed only six runs in a single outing against Railways. Despite his legacy as a Test great with over 9,200 runs and 30 centuries to his name, the recent slump has raised questions about whether he can sustain the rigors of red-ball cricket going forward.
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