Monty Panesar’s bold take on Virat Kohli’s Test retirement: Points to lingering weakness — 'Still hasn’t found a solution'

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has stirred conversation with his take on Virat Kohli’s recent retirement from Test cricket, suggesting that the timing may have something to do with his struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump—particularly with a challenging England tour on the horizon.

Speaking to PTI, Panesar speculated that Kohli, known for his fierce competitiveness, may have chosen to step away from red-ball cricket rather than risk a dip in form against England’s swing-heavy conditions. “In Australia, on those fast, bouncy pitches, he was having trouble with the fifth-stump line. In England, it swings a lot more—and perhaps he hasn’t quite found a solution for that corridor of uncertainty,” said Panesar.

Kohli has long been one of India’s most celebrated Test batters, but in recent years, a familiar weakness outside off-stump has crept back into his game. After a tough England tour in 2014, he famously bounced back in 2018 with a stellar performance, neutralising James Anderson and company. However, his recent dip in form has seen his Test average drop below 50, and the signs were evident during his last series in Australia, where he scored a century in the opener but struggled in the following matches.

Panesar, who was part of England’s rare Test series win in India in 2012, was quick to acknowledge Kohli’s incredible legacy. “He’s done brilliantly across all formats and has been a great ambassador for Test cricket,” he said. “He probably feels he’s achieved everything he could in Tests and now it’s time for the next generation to step up.”

The former spinner also believes that a comeback like Kohli’s 2018 tour would be significantly harder to pull off now. “It’s just tougher now. He’s been struggling for the last 12 to 18 months with that outside-off line, and maybe he feels it’s better for Indian cricket if young players get that opportunity and rise to the occasion,” Panesar added.

Kohli’s decision to focus on white-ball formats and the IPL comes at a time when Indian cricket is in transition, and Panesar’s comments reflect both admiration and honest analysis of a player who has carried the weight of expectations for over a decade.