Kapil Dev has shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket, suggesting that the former India captain could have continued in the longest format for a few more years. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain believes Kohli had enough ability and fitness to extend his red-ball career, especially as he was only 770 runs short of reaching 10,000 Test runs when he retired in May 2025.
Kohli had already stepped away from T20I cricket after helping India win the 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma. Following his Test retirement, the veteran batter has focused exclusively on ODI cricket for India and has continued to produce consistent performances.
According to Kapil Dev, Kohli’s fitness could allow him to remain at the highest level for several more years. The former India all-rounder also questioned why Kohli decided to walk away from Test cricket relatively early and suggested the batter could potentially look back on the decision with some regret.
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“The way he’s playing, he’s looking good. At this age, his fitness is the most important thing. And if he can keep himself fit for another two, three years, I think he can break all the records.”
Dev added that, from the perspective of a former cricketer and admirer of Kohli’s game, he would have liked to see the right-hander play more Test cricket. “He knows the best. But as a spectator, as a former cricketer, I feel he should have played more Test cricket also, because he has the ability.”
Kohli’s decision to retire from Tests came after an illustrious career in which he established himself as one of India’s most successful batters in the format. However, his current ODI form suggests he still has plenty to offer in international cricket.
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Kohli recently produced a stunning unbeaten 139 off 88 balls against West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The knock came in the opening ODI of the three-match series, with the next match scheduled at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on September 29.
