Team India Stares at Clean Sweep as Former Teammate Says Virat Kohli Retired from the Wrong Format

As India struggles in the ongoing Test series against South Africa, former cricketer Shreevats Goswami, who played alongside Virat Kohli in the U-19 World Cup and later at RCB, has said that Kohli made a mistake by retiring from Test cricket. His post on X has gone viral, triggering a fresh debate among fans and experts.

India’s batting has collapsed repeatedly in the series. Across three innings, the team has managed just one half-century, reflecting deep issues in the batting lineup. After a heavy defeat in the first Test and another poor start in the second, India is now in danger of facing a second clean sweep within a year. In such a crisis, fans strongly feel the absence of Virat Kohli — one of India’s most successful and passionate Test players.

“Kohli Should Have Retired from ODIs, Not Tests”

In his viral post, Goswami wrote:
“Virat Kohli should have left ODI cricket and continued playing Tests until he had nothing left to give. Test cricket misses him — not just as a player but for the energy, emotion, and belief he brought. He made India feel they could win in any situation.”

A Sudden Retirement That Shocked the Cricket World

Kohli shocked fans earlier this year by announcing his retirement from Test cricket just before the England tour. This came as a surprise because he had recently played domestic cricket to prepare for longer formats.

Kohli remains India’s most successful Test captain:

• First Asian captain to win a Test series in Australia
• Unbeaten in home Test series throughout his tenure
• From 2015–2021, India played 31 home Tests under him, winning 24, losing only 2, and drawing 5

However, since the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as head coach, India has lost four home Tests — something unimaginable during Kohli’s era.

Why the Debate Matters

India’s current struggles have revived discussions about Kohli’s contribution to Test cricket and whether his retirement was premature. With the team on the brink of another whitewash, many believe his leadership, intensity, and ability to rescue tough situations are exactly what India lacks today.