West Indies legend Brian Lara has thrown his full support behind Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, urging him not to step away from Test cricket. Amid speculation that Kohli had expressed his desire to retire from the longest format, Lara passionately vouched for the 36-year-old, saying Test cricket still needs his presence.
Reports earlier indicated that Kohli had reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to discuss a possible exit from Test cricket. However, a senior BCCI official reportedly convinced him to reconsider.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Lara — who holds the record for the highest individual Test score (400 not out) — expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to dominate once again. “Test cricket needs Virat!! He is going to be persuaded. He is NOT going to retire from Test cricket. @virat.kohli is going to average above 60 for the remainder of his Test career,” Lara wrote.
Kohli’s Recent Test Journey
Kohli’s recent performances in red-ball cricket have seen a few ups and downs. He began the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a match-winning century in Perth, leading India to a dominant 295-run win. However, his form dipped in the subsequent matches, as India went on to lose the series 1-3, suffering defeats in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney.
Adding to India’s Test woes, captain Rohit Sharma recently announced his retirement from the format, ending an 11-year-long career. With Rohit’s exit and Kohli potentially stepping back, India faces a significant leadership vacuum ahead of a tough England tour in June.
What Lies Ahead
India recently dropped to No. 4 in the ICC Test rankings and missed out on qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final scheduled for June. The team now looks to reset and begin the 2025–27 WTC cycle on a strong note, starting with the opening Test against England on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.
Lara’s comments serve as a powerful reminder of the global respect Kohli commands — and just how much the cricketing world still wants to see him in whites.
