Former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar reckons Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket was a premature one. Kohli hung up his boots from the red-ball format in May 2025 and now plays only the ODI format for India.
The veteran amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. In the last 69 Test innings since 2020, Kohli has managed only 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, including just three centuries.
Before 2020, Kohli accumulated 7202 runs in 141 Test innings at an average of 54.97, including 27 centuries.
The right-hander scored 190 runs in five Test matches on the Australian tour and was continuously troubled by the outside off-stump line, getting dismissed while trying to play through the covers.
“I agree. I definitely say that. You should have played more. However, he had made up his mind that he had to put a full stop to this format and spend more time on his personal life,” Sanjay Bangar said on Great India Cricket show on DD Sports.
“We have to respect his decision, and whatever he is playing from now onwards and the pleasure he is giving, one needs to enjoy that,” he added.
Bangar also picked Virat Kohli as India’s greatest Test captain of all time, given his impressive captaincy record.
“Yes, purely if you go by numbers as well, because in the end you see the number of wins and losses. Apart from that, the change we saw in the team’s approach. One is the results, but the other thing is that the perspective from which you are looked at changes,” he replied.
The former Indian coach said Kohli changed the way India was looked at internationally.
“Every team tried that India should have a positive image in their era, but on the back of fast bowling, he tried to change the perspective with which the Indian team is looked at. We would definitely say that it was Virat Kohli’s massive achievement,” Bangar observed.
Kohli led India in 68 Test matches, winning 40, drawing 11 and losing 17, and thus he is regarded as one of India’s most successful Test captains.
