Virat Kohli could come out of retirement and play for India again if...: "He still loves Test cricket, no matter his reasons..."*
As the eagerly anticipated Test series between India and England draws closer—just 14 days away—the realization that Virat Kohli will no longer be part of the Indian dressing room in whites is starting to sink in. It's been nearly a month since Kohli made the surprising decision to retire from Test cricket—a format he held close to his heart, perhaps more than any other. At 36, many feel he still had a couple of good years left in him. But only Kohli knows the reasons behind his choice. What’s certain, though, is that his absence will be deeply felt—especially when someone else walks out to bat at No. 4 in Headingley, Leeds.
Just a few days ago, Indian cricket made a last-ditch effort to convince him to reconsider. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal publicly urged Kohli to reverse his decision if his team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, went on to win the IPL. Now, more than 48 hours since RCB lifted their first-ever IPL trophy, Kohli has remained silent. Still, he made one thing abundantly clear after the win—his love for Test cricket hasn't faded. In fact, he called the IPL win “five levels below” the joy of playing Test cricket.
That lingering passion is what gives former Australian captain Michael Clarke hope that this may not be the end of Kohli’s red-ball journey. Clarke believes that if India struggle in England, particularly if they lose badly, there could be enough public and team pressure to tempt Kohli out of retirement. India haven’t won a Test series in England since 2007. Since then, they’ve suffered defeats in 2011 (0-4), 2014 (1-3), 2018 (1-4), and drew 2-2 in 2021/22. With this current squad being one of the least experienced to tour England in years, the challenge is significant.
"I honestly believe that if India go to England and get flogged—say 5-0—the fans will call for Kohli’s return. And I think he would consider it," Clarke said on the Beyond23 podcast. "He still has so much passion for Test cricket. You could hear it in his voice. He sees it as the pinnacle of the sport, and he's still playing at a high level. Yes, he made the decision to step away, and that’s respected. But if the team collapses, and the captain and selectors want him back, I wouldn’t rule it out."
Clarke also pointed out that Kohli might still feel there's unfinished business in England. He had a rough tour there in 2014, scoring just 134 runs in five Tests. But he redeemed himself in 2018, amassing nearly 700 runs in a stunning personal comeback. Although India lost that series, Kohli led the team to historic wins at Lord’s and The Oval in the following tour. The Trent Bridge match was also under India's control before rain intervened. Unfortunately, India lost the rescheduled fifth Test a year later, resulting in a 2-2 series draw.
While Clarke has confidence in India’s current squad and believes they are good enough to break their long drought in England, he also feels that if things unravel, a call for Kohli’s return could be hard to ignore.
"India is a cricket-crazy nation. They want to see their team win. And yes, I think this team is capable of beating England—even without Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But if they get hammered, there will be serious noise about Kohli coming back," Clarke added.
