Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, is nearing the end of his Test career amid a prolonged lean patch in the format. Reports suggest that his inconsistency is making it increasingly difficult for the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, to consider him for the upcoming England tour.
The 36-year-old batter, despite having an impressive overall Test record, has struggled in recent years. Kohli’s technical flaws and his uncertain setup at the crease have contributed to his decline. Before the ongoing fifth Test in Sydney, Kohli’s average in his last 38 Tests stands at a mere 31.32, a significant dip from his previous standards.
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Kohli entered the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) on the back of a poor home series against New Zealand, where he averaged under 16 in three Tests. Although he began the BGT with a brilliant century in the second innings at Perth, his form has faltered since, with a modest average of just 27.83 in four Tests in Australia.
Sports journalist Kushan Sarkar highlighted that Kohli’s diminishing returns are making it harder for the selectors to pick him for the England series. He also mentioned rumours about Kohli potentially retiring after the fifth Test at The Oval.
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However, for Kohli to walk away on his own terms, he would need to start scoring runs consistently, and with his current form, that retirement seems increasingly unlikely. As Sarkar put it on X (formerly known as Twitter), “To do it his own way, he needed runs and now Oval retirement seems a distant dream.” With time running out, Kohli faces a crucial period to prove his worth and secure a place for the upcoming tour.
Virat Kohli is making it increasingly difficult for the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee to pick him for the England series. There’s a theory doing rounds that he will retire at Oval after fifth Test. But to do it his own way, he needed runs and now Oval retirement…
— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) January 3, 2025
