Is Virat Kohli Ready to Retire from Test Cricket? Due to his recent  Form and Struggles

Virat Kohli, once considered the face of Indian cricket, is currently experiencing one of the most challenging phases of his career in Test cricket. His recent form has been inconsistent, leading to widespread speculation about his future in the longer format. Despite his immense contributions to Indian cricket, Kohli’s recent performances have sparked a debate: Is it time for him to retire from Test cricket?

Recent Form and Struggles:

In the 2024 calendar year, Kohli’s performances in Test matches have been far from the usual dominant displays that fans are accustomed to. After his long-awaited century in Australia in 2023, Kohli seemed to have regained some confidence. However, his subsequent Test series have been marked by a series of failures.

During India’s recent Test series against Australia, Kohli’s form was particularly underwhelming. In the Brisbane Test, he was dismissed for just three runs and in the melbone 5 runs in one of the innings, a performance that underlined his struggle to adapt to challenging conditions. While Kohli is still regarded as one of the finest cricketers in the world, his inconsistency in Test cricket has raised questions about his ability to perform consistently in the format.

Here is the updated table:

Test	Venue	Innings	Runs
1st	Perth	2nd	100*
2nd	Adelaide	1st	7
		2nd	11
3rd	Brisbane	1st	3
4th	Melbourne	1st	36
		2nd	5

• Total Runs: 162
• Average: Approximately 39.25

Contributing Factors:

A major issue for Kohli in Test cricket has been his struggles with deliveries outside the off-stump. Kohli has often been caught behind or bowled out due to his inability to handle certain lines and lengths. His vulnerability to this specific weakness has been exposed repeatedly, and opponents have targeted this flaw in his game. Despite various adjustments to his technique, Kohli’s inconsistency in Tests remains a concern.

Another factor contributing to Kohli’s struggles is the physical and mental toll of playing across all formats. Kohli, known for his intense work ethic and passion for the game, is involved in all three formats—Test, ODI, and T20. This high workload may be contributing to his lack of form in Test cricket, where the demands are more taxing, both physically and mentally.

As A Hardcore Fan Of You I Think Its Time To Leave Red Ball Cricket Virat ! 🥺🥹
Spend All The Time With Your Family And Play ODIs And IPL..!
5 F*cking Years With An Average 30 😥👎
Its Hurts 💔 But Time To Say Goodbye To Red Ball Mate..👋 #ViratKohli #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pdCuksNoEA

— ViseNya (@Tunebharath) December 30, 2024

Retirement Speculation:

As Kohli continues to battle poor form, speculation regarding his retirement from Test cricket has intensified. There is no official statement from Kohli or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his retirement, but the murmurs about a potential exit have grown louder. Some pundits believe Kohli should consider stepping away from Test cricket and focus on the limited-overs formats where his form has remained solid

I am in tears 🥺🥺
Can't believe u r finished
Just retire pic.twitter.com/YouNO7prC3

— ` (@Manan_Vk) December 30, 2024

Despite the pressure, Kohli’s wealth of experience and past performances make him a valuable asset to the team, and his retirement from Tests could signal the end of an era for Indian cricket. With younger players like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and others rising through the ranks, the team might need to make a transition sooner rather than later.

Pls retire from Tests, Virat
Again and again and again the same type of dismissal
It's frustrating 😑 https://t.co/KNRnn0fhVv

— 👑¹⁸ (@VK_AFICIONADO) December 30, 2024