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Virat Kohli for India vs New Zealand. Image Credits: X
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa wants Virat Kohli to reverse his Test retirement and grace the Indian whites once again. The 2007 T20 World Cup-winner expressed his desire at a time when Virat Kohli was prepping up for Team India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
It is worth noting that the legendary Indian batter announced his retirement from Tests back in mid-2025 last year after hitting one of the worst phases of his career in red-ball cricket.
Both he and fellow seasoned pro Rohit Sharma concurrently confirmed their retirements just before India’s high-profile England tour, prompting a major leadership and middle-order shakeup in the Indian team.
Robin Uthappa “would love to see” Virat Kohli back in Tests
Shortly before India’s home ODI series against New Zealand, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa shared a picture of Virat Kohli from the latter’s pre-series training session on his social media account.
In the caption, Uthappa expressed his desire of seeing Kohli reversing his Test retirement as the legendary Indian batter continues to pile up match-winning runs for India in ODIs.
Robin Uthappa wrote, “Them eyes tell u a story…Surely it’s time to rescind Test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket.”
Compatible to Robin Uthappa’s claims, Virat Kohli starred in Team India’s triumphant crusade in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE last year shortly after his dreadful Test tour of Australia.
The modern-day batting behemoth also scored a sizzling 74* at the SCG later that year, and pummeled South Africa at home with a 302-run tally in just three innings in India’s 2-1 series win.
However, Virat Kohli’s Test form took a severe hit regardless of playing conditions, with oppositions exploiting his fourth stump and spin struggles. Moreover, India’s all-format great averaged just 24.52 throughout the year 2024 before silently making his exit from red-ball cricket.
Virat Kohli eventually concluded his Test career with 123 caps and an aggregate of 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. That same average once comfortably north of 50 now stands as a reminder of both his prolonged peak and the natural ebb that followed.
