India are not in a comfortable position in red-ball cricket. Just a few days ago, Team India were whitewashed at home by South Africa. In such a situation, rumors began to circulate that Virat Kohli might be requested to come out of retirement and return to Test cricket. Those whispers were getting louder. Finally, Kohli himself has dismissed all such speculation.
After India’s Test failures, many assumed that Virat Kohli might once again return to the whites. But after scoring a century in the first ODI in Ranchi, he himself put an end to the speculation. After playing a match-winning hundred against South Africa, Kohli clearly stated that his international career is now limited to only one format — One Day Internationals.
More than India’s 17-run win, the main talking point was Kohli’s 52nd ODI century. From the start he looked fluent — smooth batting, excellent running, and smart shot selection — everything combined to take India ahead. Seeing this performance, calls grew again for him to return to the Test team. However, Kohli dismissed that possibility outright.
During the presentation he said, “It will continue this way. I’m playing only one format.”
The 37-year-old also explained why he is still eager to play. He said, “If you’ve played around 300 matches, you know when your reflexes are intact and your body is adapting. As long as I can play the ball well, it’s all about physical fitness, mental preparation, and excitement.”
These comments came at a time when India’s Test team has been consistently failing. After losing 0–2 at home to South Africa, and being whitewashed 0–3 by New Zealand the previous year, rumors spread that the board wanted Kohli and Rohit to return to Tests. But BCCI secretary Debajit Saikia clarified that no such discussion took place. Both players retired from Tests in May.
