Manoj Tiwary on Virat Kohli's Test retirement [Source: @bholination/X.com]Virat Kohli’s sudden retirement from Test cricket in early 2025 came as a shock to many. The announcement came just a month before India’s five-match Test tour of England. Many believed Kohli would continue in red-ball cricket despite his recent struggles. Now, former India batter Manoj Tiwary has added a fresh angle to the debate. He feels Kohli did not leave Test cricket by choice. Manoj Tiwary says the team atmosphere wasn’t right for Virat KohliIn a chat with Inside Sports, Manoj Tiwary suggested that the environment around the team played a big role in Kohli’s decision. According to him, circumstances were created in such a way that retirement became the only option.He strongly rejected the idea that Virat Kohli walked away because Tests became too hard. He said Kohli is not the kind of player who would ever give up on red-ball cricket willingly.Tiwary claimed that pressure was built quietly. He hinted that Kohli was made to feel unwanted. “I don’t agree with it (ODIs being the easiest format). He (Kohli) was forced out. In my view, he was forced to leave. An atmosphere was created where he had no choice but to retire from Test cricket. Because he isn’t an individual who would give up on red-ball cricket," Tiwary said.Reports of possible dropping during the England tour only added to the tension. Virat Kohli, according to Tiwary, chose to step away before facing that situation.Tiwary also pointed out that Kohli always valued Test cricket the most. Walking away from it was never part of his mindset. The decision, though officially Kohli’s, was influenced by what happened behind closed doors.Bengal cricketer also slams ManjrekarNot only that, but Manoj Tiwary also disagreed with comments suggesting Virat Kohli picked ODIs because they are easier. Former batter Sanjay Manjrekar had earlier said that ODIs are the simplest format for top-order batters. Tiwary, however, did not agree with that view. He questioned the logic of blaming Kohli. According to him, knowing the full background changes everything. Tiwary felt it was unfair to say Kohli chased runs instead of fighting for Test cricket."The decision was taken by him. But everyone knows the behind-the-scenes story. Everyone knows what happened. Even after knowing all this, how can you say that he left the hardest format for the easiest one, just to score runs? I don’t agree with this statement,” he added.How did Virat Kohli’s Test career go downhill?Kohli’s Test numbers did fall after the pandemic. From 2020 onward, his average dropped sharply. Centuries became rare. Still, he had backing during Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma’s leadership phase.Things changed quickly after the team entered a transition period. New management ideas. Selection uncertainty. Big changes across formats. Senior players started stepping away.Rohit Sharma’s Test exit earlier had already raised eyebrows. Virat Kohli's retirement soon after added fuel to speculation. India’s struggles in Tests since then have only deepened the debate.Whether Virat Kohli was forced or chose his own exit may never be fully clear. But Manoj Tiwary’s comments have reopened the conversation.
