Overview:
His strokeplay, sharp running between the wickets and electrifying fielding added fuel to the chatter that India might bring him back into the Test team.
Virat Kohli is not coming out of Test retirement to represent India. He has dismissed the rumours on his return to the longest format of the game.
The veteran said that he will only play in one-day internationals. Kohli bid adieu to Test cricket earlier this year. With India struggling in red-ball cricket, some of the reports said the BCCI would be approaching the star batter regarding coming out of retirement.
India defeated South Africa by 17 runs, with Virat Kohli scoring a hundred in the first ODI. He was named the Player of the Match for his 52nd ODI ton and 83rd in international cricket. His strokeplay, sharp running between the wickets and electrifying fielding added fuel to the chatter that India might bring him back into the Test team.
“It is going to remain the same, and I am just playing one form of the game,” Virat said when asked whether he would be a part of only one format.
The 37-year-old also shed light on what keeps him going despite taking retirement from two formats.
“I have played over 300 ODIs, and I know about my reflexes and physical ability. As long as you are hitting the ball well, you are mentally ready and excited,” he added.
He commented when India recently lost a Test series 0-2 against South Africa at home. This was their second whitewash at home in the last 12 months, with the previous 0-3 defeat coming against New Zealand. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has denied the stories about the discussion with the two senior players about playing Test cricket again.
In Ranchi, Kohli amassed 135 runs off 120 balls, and the world saw the top batter at his best. Kohli’s knock was laced with 11 fours and 7 sixes, and he went past Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most hundreds in a format. Sachin had hit 51 tons in Tests.
Both Kohli and Rohit Sharma are giving match-winning performances as India look to form a strong squad for the 2027 World Cup. When Virat scored two consecutive ducks in Australia, a lot was said and written about his place in the team, but the legendary cricketer has put everything to rest in Ranchi.