Virat Kohli dropped a bombshell on May 12, 2025, when he announced his retirement from Test cricket. This came just five days after Rohit Sharma bid farewell to the red-ball format. Now, Arun Singh Dhumal, the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is urging Kohli to reconsider his decision.
Dhumal told PTI that Kohli looks fitter now than he did in his first IPL season. He hopes Kohli will continue playing in the IPL even if his team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), wins the trophy. Dhumal wants Kohli to think about coming out of Test retirement, saying the whole country wants him to keep playing.
Call to reverse retirement decision
“I want Virat to reconsider his Test retirement,” Dhumal said. “The entire nation wants him to keep playing. I hope he doesn’t retire from the IPL as he’s been one of the greatest ambassadors of cricket.” Dhumal, a former treasurer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is technically still a board member since the BCCI manages the IPL.
Kohli’s retirement from two formats
After India won the 2024 T20 World Cup, Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from the T20 format. Then, on May 12, Kohli stunned the cricket world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket. Now, fans will only see him play in IPL and One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
- Kohli has retired from two formats: T20 and Test cricket.
- He will continue playing in the IPL and ODIs.
- Arun Singh Dhumal wants Kohli to reconsider his Test retirement.
As the cricket world waits to see what’s next for Kohli, one thing is certain – his fans will be watching his every move. Will he change his mind and return to Test cricket? Only time will tell.