Is it the right time for Virat Kohli to retire from international cricket?

Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batters in international cricket history. The right-handed batter has always set a high standard in modern batting. But while Indian cricket is actively moving to the next generation, there is a strong question rising about Kohli’s retirement from international cricket.

The 35-year-old Virat Kohli already announced his retirement from T20 international cricket after winning a Player of the Match award in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final to lift the trophy. He ended his T20I career as the second-most run-scorer with 4188 runs with an average of 48.69.

Active in Test and ODI

So, the former Indian captain Kohli is now officially active in Test and ODI cricket. The right-handed batter is India’s fourth-most run-scorer in Test cricket, with 8947 runs in 195 innings and an average of 48.89. Meanwhile, in the ODI format, Kohli is the third leading run-scorer with 13906 runs and an average of 58.18. He is the only batter to hit 50 ODI centuries. 

Kohli's unavailability during long home Test series against England

This year, Kohli missed out on the complete five-match home Test series against England, which was a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. Although India closely lost the Test series opener at Hyderabad, the hosts dominated the other matches without the former Indian captain and won the series by 4-1.

Recent Test and ODI performances

Recently, Kohli returned to Test cricket during the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh. While the hosts majorly dominated that Test series and won the series by 2-0, Kohli scored 6, 17, 47, and 29 not out. He also started the three-match home Test series against New Zealand with a duck.

Talking about Kohli’s recent ODI performances, after ending the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 as the leading run-scorer with 765 runs to win the Player of the Tournament award, the right-handed top-order batter has played only three ODIs. During India's tour of Sri Lanka last August, Kohli scored 24, 14, and 20 runs. While India lost that three-match ODI series by 2-0, Kohli was India’s third-most run-scorer in that series. 

Now the big question comes up. Is it the right time for Virat Kohli to announce his retirement from international cricket? 

In early November, Kohli will celebrate his 36th birthday. Soon after his birthday, the Indian team will travel to Australia for the five-match Test series, which is a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship.

Moreover, India will tour England in the 2025 summer for a five-match Test series. This Test series will be played after the final of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. While India are leading the points table, the first two-time runners-up are likely to play another WTC final.

Importance in Test cricket 

While the Indian team performed strongly against England at home in the five-match Test series, they have earned the confidence to play without India’s fourth-leading run-scorer in Test cricket.  

However, the upcoming away series will be very different for the Indian team. While Cheteshwar Pujara and former Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane are likely far away from the Test team at present, as both haven’t played a Test match for more than a year, these have already created a big hole in the Indian batting line-up. 

So, in the present situation, the Indian batting line-up can heavily suffer without Kohli in the upcoming big away Test series in Australia and England. Kohli’s presence can properly guide the Indian new-generation players on and off the field. Without him, our batting can seem helpless in the longer away Test series.

This theory powerfully proves if we see India’s last away Test series. From late December 2023 to early January 2024, India played a two-match Test series against the hosts South Africa. While South Africa won the first Test of the series at Centurion by an innings and 32 runs, the visitors ended the series by 1-1 after winning the Cape Town Test by seven wickets. Kohli was the second-most run-scorer and India’s leading run-scorer in that Test series with 172 runs. In two innings of that Test series, Kohli was India’s leading run-scorer, including a half-century. 

Importance in ODI format

Talking about ODI cricket, India hardly played any ODIs this year. In early 2025, India will start their preparation for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 can be a starter for the teams for the next ODI World Cup preparation. 

The right-handed batter Kohli is currently in great form in T20 cricket. Even before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where he struggled before the final match knock, Kohli performed strongly in the IPL 2024 by finishing as the leading run-scorer (741 runs). While he has already announced his T20I retirement, we can assume that he is serious about his Test and ODI career. 

While the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 can be played in late 2027, Kohli will be close to the age of 39. Although he is fit enough, the Indian cricket team still needs to set up his close alternative as soon as possible.  

As South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, fit-Kohli’s presence will be very helpful for Indian cricket. However, the tournament is long away enough to anything assume about Kohli’s ODI career future.