"Please don't retire": Ambati Rayudu begs Virat Kohli to delay Test retirement plan

Amid swirling rumors about Virat Kohli’s possible retirement from Test cricket, former Indian batter and one of the Delhi lad’s biggest critics, Ambati Rayudu, has added fuel to the fire. After launching several potshots at Virat Kohli, the former Indian batter has taken a drastic U-turn after the reports of him retiring from Test cricket went viral across social media platforms.

Kohli has reportedly informed the BCCI about his decision to retire from Test cricket. With India set to tour England for a five-match Test series starting June 20, Kohli is still expected to be part of the squad. However, he has been in talks with BCCI officials about his retirement plans over the past month, but the top brass requested him to reconsider his decision.

Ambati Rayudu pleads Virat Kohli to stay amid Test retirement buzz

After this bombshell was made public by one of the BCCI officials, Rayudu took to social media with an emotional plea, urging Kohli to continue entertaining the fans across the world with his game in the whites. With Rohit Sharma already retired from the formats, the thought of losing Kohli too has stunned the Indian cricket fraternity.

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Rayudu urged the former Indian captain to reconsider his decision, as he believes that the right-handed batter still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket in the traditional format of the game. The timing of this buzz couldn’t be more intense, as India gears up for a new era in the format.

Test cricket will not be the same without Virat Kohli: Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu posted on X on May 10: “Virat Kohli, please don’t retire… The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you walking out to battle it out for Team India… Please reconsider…”

Virat Kohli please don’t retire.. The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you walking out to battle it out for Team India.. Please reconsider..

— ATR (@RayuduAmbati) May 10, 2025

If Virat Kohli sticks to his decision to retire from Test cricket, it will mark the end of his legendary 14-year journey in the format. He has played 123 Tests, scored 9230 runs, and led India in 68 matches. While his career overall has been outstanding, recent years haven’t been as impressive.

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BCCI set to have conversation with Virat Kohli amid his retirement buzz

His unbeaten hundred in the Perth Test against Australia in November 2024 was his first Test century in over a year, with his previous ton coming in July 2023 against the West Indies. Since reaching a career-best average of 55.10 after a double hundred in 2019, his form has dipped, averaging just 32.56 in the last two years.

As reported by Cricbuzz, the BCCI is likely to have a conversation with Kohli about his reported plan to retire from Test cricket. A senior figure in Indian cricket is expected to personally meet Kohli and try to convince him to continue playing red-ball cricket.

Kohli is also nearing a major milestone, as he is just 770 runs away from completing 10,000 runs in Test cricket, and that is a rare achievement. The BCCI is hopeful that Virat will decide to continue his Test journey, at least for a bit longer, to reach that milestone and continue helping the team.