13 May,2025 08:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Neeru Bhatia
Madan Lal. Pic/Satej Shinde
Former chairman of selectors Madan Lal is taken by surprise by Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket. "I am a bit surprised because there was definitely some cricket left in him. He could have taken a call after the England series. I don't think his form was the same as five years back, but it's difficult for it to be the same," Madan Lal told mid-day on Monday.
The former India all-rounder, however, emphasised that Kohli's decision to quit Test cricket had nothing to do with his form or fitness: "I think he's mentally tired. Though I feel he could've continued for one or two more years, depending on his fitness and performance, I believe that after the last series in Australia, mentally he must have decided this."
Also Read: When 2016 chief selector Patil was asked to hit the gym by Kohli
Though Kohli is one of the fittest players in the Indian dressing room, the 1983 World Cup-winner also felt that age may have something to do with this retirement call. "As you get older, there is wear and tear to the body. So, it all depends on how it works for him, whether he's as fit as before," he said.
ALSO READ
2018: Virat Kohli's peak of global domination in a tough year for batters
Kohli meets spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj after Test retirement: WATCH
Bumrah deserves captaincy: Ashwin's clear-cut take on Rohit Sharma's successor in Test format
Padma Shri Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik dedicates sand art to Virat Kohli
'You need your best batter to bat at No. 4': Pujara post Kohli's Test retirement
Some reports suggested that Kohli was keen to take up the leadership role again in England, but the selectors wanted a younger skipper. Madan Lal however, insisted that Kohli's call would have had nothing to do with the captaincy aspect.
"I will always remember Virat as one of the most intelligent batsmen. In India, you don't get a lot of players like him. He put a lot of focus on fitness, but I guess one has to face it that it's tough to handle expectations of the people. Also, I feel he needs to think about his family and other stuff."
The former India and Delhi though felt that the national selectors could have handled things better around the time Kohli quit Test captaincy in 2022, considering India won 40 matches and lost just 17 under him. "I believe the selectors should have handled him better back then. They should have continued with him as skipper for a longer period," concluded Madan Lal.
