NEW DELHI: Congress MP and renowned public figure Shashi Tharoor has once again sparked debate around Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, calling it “premature” and urging the Indian stalwart to return to the longest format. Tharoor’s latest remarks came after India’s spirited 2-2 series draw in England, under new skipper Shubman Gill, who led a young side admirably in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite India fighting back from a 1-2 deficit with a draw in Manchester and a nail-biting win at The Oval, Tharoor couldn’t help but reflect on what might have been with Kohli in the lineup.
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“I was just admiring Joe @root66’s consistent excellence as England’s hardy perennial at age 35, while @imVkohli, just two years older, languishes in premature retirement,” Tharoor posted on social media, in reply to a debate on Kohli’s potential return.
Earlier during the fifth Test, Tharoor had already voiced his emotions, posting: “I’ve been missing @imVkohli a few times during this series, but never as much as in this Test match. His grit and intensity, his inspirational presence in the field, not to mention his abundant batting skills, might have led to a different outcome. Is it too late to call him out of retirement? Virat, the nation needs you!”Kohli, 36, announced his Test retirement in May 2025, ending a stellar 14-year red-ball career with 123 Tests, 9,230 runs, 30 hundreds, and a top score of 254*. He remains India’s most successful Test captain in England, with three wins, and was central to several near-misses — including the closely contested 2018 series and the COVID-delayed 2021-22 finale.
As Team India embraces a new era, Tharoor’s impassioned appeal may reignite calls from fans and pundits alike for King Kohli’s red-ball encore.
