"Virat Kohli shouldn't have.."- Sachin Tendulkar's 1st verdict on Test Retirement

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has opened up about former Team India skipper Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket ahead of the five-match series against England. Tendulkar said that the decision to retire from cricket is personal and added that it should not be judged by outsiders.

Virat Kohli’s retirement from Tests has left a void in the batting order. He ended his red-ball career as the fourth-highest run-getter for India in Tests, with 9230 runs from 123 matches. Apart from his batting, Kohli was also India’s most successful Test captain, leading the side to 40 victories in 68 matches.

It’s a Personal Decision - Sachin Tendulkar on Virat Kohli’s Retirement

Speaking to Test Match Special, Sachin Tendulkar said that only the individual knows their mental and physical state. Tendulkar added that it’s unfair to offer opinions unless someone fully understands what a player is going through.

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"It's a personal decision. So, you know, it's easy for an outsider to just pass a loose comment and say, 'OK, he shouldn't have done it' or 'he should have done it,' whatever that may be," Sachin told Test Match Special.

"But only the individual understands their state of mind and how the body is responding to the longer format of the game. And it's a personal decision, so it wouldn't be right for me to make any comment on that," he added.

Sachin Tendulkar has spoken about Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/3swxQEx08S

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 19, 2025

Virat Kohli Came Under the Spotlight During Australia Tour Earlier This Year

Virat Kohli came under the spotlight during the Australia tour earlier this year, where he scored just 190 runs across 11 innings at an average of 23.75. He scored a century in the second innings of the opening Test but managed only 90 runs in the remaining matches.

The former India captain played three Test tours of England during his career. He scored 1096 runs in 17 matches at an average of 33.21.

His debut tour in 2014 was a forgettable one, with Kohli managing just 134 runs. However, he bounced back strongly in 2018, scoring 593 runs at an average of 59.30, including two centuries and three half-centuries.

Shubman Gill Named New Test Captain, Rishabh Pant to Serve as Deputy

Following Rohit Sharma’s exit from the Test format, Shubman Gill has been named the new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant appointed as his deputy. The series will mark the beginning of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle for India.

The five-match Test series is scheduled to be played from June 20 to August 4. As per the schedule, Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord’s (London), Old Trafford (Manchester), and The Oval (London) will host the Tests.

The newly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was officially introduced ahead of the first Test between England and India at Headingley on Friday. Notably, the trophy will be presented to winners from both sides in future Test series.

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