retired from Test cricket ahead of the England tour last year following a lean run with the bat. Kohli was the heart and soul of the Test team and played a massive role in keeping Test cricket alive.
His retirement left the cricket world shocked, but he was under a lot of pressure, and the retirement was always on the cards after a poor tour to Australia.
Kohli, however, continued in ODIs and seems to have found his mojo back. After piling on runs in the ODIs, he returned to T20 cricket in , and played a whirlwind innings of 69 not out to lead RCB to a brilliant win over SRH in the IPL 2026 opener at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Amid Kohli’s brilliant form, former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu urged the veteran to consider his retirement, also requesting the BCCI to hand him Test captaincy.
“I feel his best is yet to come in the IPL. What we have seen is just a trailer. Fitness was never an issue with him. I don’t think he would ever get into any trouble with his physical fitness, getting late on the ball, or slowing down on the field. The only thing that can make him take a step back is his mental state. I don’t think he’s anywhere closer to the end of his career. I still see quality five to six years in him,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s ‘Time Out’ show.
“I think he should make a comeback in Test cricket. Hopefully, as a captain. He’s been the best red-ball captain that at least I have seen in Indian cricket. He should, the way he’s batting, I think it’s a loss for Indian cricket,” he added.
‘Fitness Won’t Be A Concern For Virat Kohli’: Rayudu
Under Kohli, India tasted tremendous success in the format, winning the Test series in Australia and reaching the WTC final in 2021. Rayudu further added that giving him captaincy would motivate Kohli to win the WTC for India, adding that fitness won’t be a concern for him.
“It would be a great drive for him if you give him the captaincy. I think it will be a great challenge for him to win the WTC. He’s so fit, so I don’t see how that can be a concern,” said Rayudu.