Virat Kohli’s sudden retirement from test cricket sent shockwaves across the globe. Fans and former players alike were left scrambling to make sense of the decision. Amidst the chaos, a contentious statement from former English spinner Monty Panesar has been doing the rounds. He claims to have nailed the real reason behind Kohli’s retirement.
Kohli struggled with balls bowled outside the off stump, Panesar observed. “In conditions like Australia and England, where the ball swings and bounces more, it becomes even tougher to tackle those deliveries.” Panesar believes Kohli realized he couldn’t overcome this weakness, prompting his decision to focus on one-day matches.
It’s worth recalling that James Anderson had exploited this very weakness during India’s 2014 England tour. However, Kohli made a stunning comeback in the 2018 series, silencing his critics. Panesar thinks that, given Kohli’s age and current form, replicating that performance would be a tall order.
Panesar further speculated, “Kohli feels he’s given his all to test cricket. He’s been an incredible player who brought fans back to the format.” Kohli may believe it’s time for younger players to take center stage, according to Panesar.
Not everyone is buying Panesar’s theory, though. The former English spinner himself has faced struggles with the bat throughout his career. With 50 test matches under his belt, Panesar’s batting performance has been underwhelming. Social media is abuzz with fans criticizing his comments, labeling them ‘controversial’.