Overview:
The discussion around Kohli’s Test future resurfaced after Uthappa posted a photo from a recent nets session, interpreting the focus and intensity on display as reason enough for a rethink.
Robin Uthappa has weighed in on Virat Kohli’s Test exit, urging the senior batter to rethink his call through a social media post that gained significant traction. Kohli had stepped away from red-ball cricket earlier this year, ahead of the England assignment.
The ace batter’s most recent international outing came in the ODI series against South Africa, where Virat Kohli struck back-to-back hundreds and followed them up with an unbeaten fifty. He later featured for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, adding another century to his tally.
The discussion around Kohli’s Test future resurfaced after Uthappa posted a photo from a recent nets session, interpreting the focus and intensity on display as reason enough for a rethink. “Them eyes tell u a story…Surely it’s time to rescind his test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket,” posted on “X”.
Them eyes tell u a story…Surely it’s time to rescind his test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/fxWcI8tF1X
— Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) January 8, 2026
Ahead of stepping away from Test cricket, Kohli opened the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia with a commanding century in Perth, but his returns dipped across the remaining four matches. India went on to concede the five-Test series 1–3, after which the BCCI carried out a detailed review in January 2025.
The post-series review was followed by mandatory Ranji Trophy participation, which saw Kohli and Rohit Sharma turn out in domestic cricket. Kohli subsequently announced his Test retirement, signing off as India’s most successful captain in the format with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 Tests.
Both Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their Test retirements in close succession, with Uthappa subsequently remarking that the decisions did not appear entirely organic.