Former Indian all-rounder says Virat Kohli should return to Test cricket and share his experience with younger players
LONDON: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-July 17th, 2025) Following India’s defeat to England in the third Test at Lord’s, which put them behind 1-2 in the five-match series, former Indian all-rounder and 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal on Thursday called on Virat Kohli to reconsider his retirement from Test cricket.
India’s batting woes, particularly the absence of an experienced player at No. 4, have been evident throughout the series. This has led to growing sentiment among fans and cricket experts for Kohli’s return, a sentiment echoed by Madan Lal.
Speaking to Indian media, Madan Lal said, “Virat Kohli’s passion for Indian cricket was unmatched. He should return to Test cricket and share his experience with the younger players. There is no shame in coming back—if not this series, then the next one.”
Lal added, “Virat can easily play for another one to two years. His departure felt too sudden, and it hasn't been that long. Please come back.”
Virat Kohli had announced his retirement from Test cricket a month before the England tour, ending a distinguished career with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 31 centuries and 31 fifties. He remains India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format.
While young captain Shubman Gill has attempted to fill the void with remarkable performances—scoring 147 in Leeds and 269 and 161 in the Edgbaston Test—his dip in form during the third Test, where he managed just 16 and 6, raised concerns. Despite this, Gill remains the leading run-scorer in the series with 607 runs at an average of over 100.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also weighed in, saying that England raised their intensity in the third Test, especially during India's second innings, where Gill appeared less composed and technically unsettled.
India’s loss by 22 runs in the third Test was felt deeply, with the fans and experts alike pointing to Kohli’s absence as a critical factor. While Ravindra Jadeja and the lower order fought valiantly, the team was unable to cross the finish line.
