Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers says Virat Kohli followed his “gut feel” in deciding to retire from Test cricket.
Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket
Virat Kohli surprised fans worldwide on May 12 by announcing his retirement from Test cricket ahead of India’s upcoming England tour. The 36-year-old right-handed batter played 123 Tests, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, a close friend of Kohli, revealed that Kohli followed his gut feeling in making this decision. Virat Kohli had struggled with form over the past five years, scoring only four centuries during that period, which saw his average drop from 55 to nearly 46. His dismissals often came from chasing wide deliveries outside off stump, notably during the Australia series.
“He followed his gut feel. I think he has done a lot for cricket around the world over the years. Luckily, we’ll still see him on the cricket field,” de Villiers said in Mumbai. “He will be missed in Test matches, there is no doubt about it, but he leaves (behind) a great legacy with the red ball.”
‘Time for younger guys to step up’
AB de Villiers believes India can pose a serious challenge to England in the upcoming five-match Test series starting June 20. With Shubman Gill recently named Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, Rishabh Pant will serve as his deputy. The squad also includes promising talents like Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Shardul Thakur, whose performances in the UK remain to be seen.
De Villiers praised the IPL for nurturing young talent, saying, “Yes, it’s time for the younger guys to step up… Shubman Gill taking on the responsibility. There’s lots of talent in India, and largely credit to the IPL for that (it is) really giving great exposure to some of the youngsters at a very early age.”
De Villiers emphasized the need for the young squad to embrace responsibility, warning that the England tour will be tough but full of opportunity: “They’ve got to take some responsibility on in England, it’ll be a tough test, but they have all the talent in the world, and if they believe, maybe they can achieve something special.”
