Former World Cup Winner Urges Virat Kohli to Reconsider Test Retirement After ODI Purple Patch

Returning to play for Delhi, Virat Kohli maintained his superb form in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, smashing a century and a fifty.

Former World Cup Winner Urges Virat Kohli to Reconsider Test Retirement After ODI Purple Patch

Robin Uthappa urged Virat Kohli to come out of Test retirement. (via News 18)

Ex-India keeper Robin Uthappa urged batting icon and former RCB teammate Virat Kohli to come out of Test retirement in a social media post. Uthappa lauded Kohli’s perseverance, as the 37-year-old prepares himself for India’s upcoming ODI assignment against New Zealand. 

Virat Kohli had announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025. His decision was attributed to a combination of technical and personal reasons. By the time of his retirement, his batting average had fallen from a career-high of 55 to just 46.85. Kohli’s last Test appearance was in the 2024-25 BGT against Australia, where he scored 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75, as India lost 1-3.

Despite the hasty exit, Kohli still remains India’s most successful Test captain and the fourth-highest run-scorer for the country in the format. He concluded his Test career after featuring in 123 matches, where he accumulated 9,230 runs at an average of 48.85, including 30 centuries. Rohit Sharma had also announced his retirement just days before, leaving the iconic pair active only in the ODI format.

There was a fair amount of scepticism about how Kohli would perform in ODIs, considering he would remain out of action for most of the year. Concerns grew after he was dismissed for consecutive ducks against Australia in October. However, after scoring 74 off 81 in the final ODI in Sydney, Kohli has been unstoppable, hitting a staggering 302 runs in the subsequent three ODIs against South Africa at home.

Virat Kohli most recently shared snaps from his training session ahead of India’s upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. 2007 T20 World Cup winner Robin Uthappa was impressed by Kohli’s dedication, as he shared pictures of the 37-year-old batting in the nets.

Uthappa suggested that, given his recent purple patch of form, it might be the right time for the former India captain to reverse his Test retirement. Uthappa further added that he would love to see Kohli donning the whites again.

Those eyes tell u a story…Surely it’s time to rescind his [Virat Kohli’s] test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket.

Not just Uthappa, but several others have also been urging Virat Kohli to reconsider his Test retirement. The 37-year-old, however, had clearly stated that he intends to continue to play for the Men in Blue in one format only, in an interaction with Harsha Bhogle. 

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to spearhead India’s predicted XI for New Zealand ODIs

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both former captains, are set to spearhead the ODI squad in the upcoming three-match home series against New Zealand. The India-NZ series begins on January 11th, with One-Day matches scheduled to be played in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma NZ ODIs
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will lead India’s playing XI against New Zealand. (via India Today)

Both captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer are returning to the ODI team for the series against New Zealand, having last played in the format during the Australia tour. Gill, who was sidelined with a neck injury during the South Africa ODI series, will captain the side. Iyer returns after a long layoff due to a spleen injury he suffered against Australia in Sydney last October.

For the series opener in Vadodara, Rohit Sharma is expected to open the batting alongside captain Gill, with Virat Kohli at no.3, and Shreyas Iyer at no. 4. Wicket-keeper KL Rahul is expected to slot in at no.5, followed by all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. In bowling, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav could be picked in the playing XI. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand will field a weakened playing XI, as the majority of their senior players have been rested. The only experienced players named in the squad are Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Will Young, and Kyle Jamieson.

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