Former Indian captain Virat Kohli bid farewell to Test cricket last May. Now, past Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed disappointment and sadness over Kohli's Test retirement. He believes Kohli retired from Test cricket too soon and should have fought more.
In a video shared on Instagram, Sanjay Manjrekar mentioned that as Joe Root was setting new records in Test cricket, Kohli's departure from the format became even more noticeable. Manjrekar noted that Kohli’s contemporaries like Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson continue to strengthen their Test careers.
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According to Manjrekar, Kohli consistently underperformed during the five years before retirement but did not completely work on his technical and mental weaknesses. Manjrekar said Kohli could have worked on his technique and mental preparation and accepted sitting out for some time. He also added that he felt more let down by Kohli's decision to quit Test cricket but continue playing ODIs.
Manjrekar states, 'The One Day format is the easiest for top-order batsmen. The real test is Test cricket, which requires patience, technique, and mental toughness. T20 has its challenges, but Test is the hardest. If Kohli had retired from all formats, it would have made sense. But quitting Tests while still playing ODIs didn’t feel right.' Manjrekar also mentioned Kohli is in excellent fitness, suggesting he could have continued to battle for form in Test matches for a few more years.
From 2020 to 2025, Virat Kohli's Test performance was underwhelming. During this period, he played 39 matches, averaging 30.72 with a total of 2028 runs, including 3 centuries and 9 half-centuries. His biggest weakness was handling balls outside off, and Australian fast bowler Scott Boland dismissed him five times. In his last series against Australia, Kohli scored only 190 runs in 9 innings, including one century.
In his overall Test career, Kohli scored 9230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with an average of 46.85. By the end of 2019, his average was 54.97, which later significantly declined.
