Just before the England tour, Team India suffered a major setback as star batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on 12 May. This decision came as a huge shock to fans and former cricketers alike. As India gets ready for the England series, the absence of King Kohli at number four in the batting lineup could be deeply felt. After Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement, Kohli took over the No. 4 position in Tests and piled up runs, ensuring the team never missed the Master Blaster.
Aussie Legend Makes a Big Statement on Kohli’s Retirement
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has now made a big claim about Kohli. According to Clarke, if India suffers a heavy defeat in the England series, Kohli might come out of retirement. Clarke believes that Kohli’s love for Test cricket is clear in the way he talks about the game.
Speaking on the Beyond23 podcast, Clarke said, “I truly believe, if India gets badly beaten in England — let’s say they lose the series 0-5 — fans will want to see Virat Kohli back in Test cricket. If the captain, selectors, and fans support it, I think he might return. He still loves Test cricket deeply, and you can feel that in the way he speaks about it.”
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Clarke added, “He made the retirement decision for a reason, and every player reaches that point in their career. If that’s the case, fine. But if the team underperforms and loses 5-0 — which I don’t think will happen — then questions will certainly arise. In my opinion, this Indian team is strong enough to beat England even without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.”
Clarke also hinted that Kohli might still have unfinished business against England. During the 2014 tour, Kohli had a disappointing performance, scoring only 134 runs in five Tests. However, he made a strong comeback in 2018, scoring 593 runs at an average of 59.30, though India still lost that series 1-4.
Michael Clarke concluded by saying, “There’s a lot of passion for cricket in India. Fans want their team to win. I believe this Indian side can still beat England. But if they fail to do so, then I think Kohli might be forced to come out of retirement.”