Virat Kohli's Test Comeback stamped

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke believed that if India got flogged in the upcoming England tour, then fans would want Virat Kohli to come out of retirement and play his favorite format again.

India will take on England on June 20, and only 14 days are left for the first Test series of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. Kohli won’t be present in the dressing room after 14 years.

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Michael Clarke thinks fans didn’t witness the last of Virat Kohli in whites

Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke also believed that Kohli is not done with the longest format yet, as if the Indian team is punished by England, then Kohli might come out of retirement.

The Indian team has yet to win a Test series in England since 2007, as they got whitewashed in 2011 by 0-4 and then lost 1-3 in 2014, and then again got humbled by 1-3 by the English team at home conditions.

The last time India fought back hard against England in England was in 2021-22, as they drew the series 2-2, and that time, Kohli was captaining the side. This time, India has one of the least experienced sides to tour England.

"I believe this. If India go to England and get flogged, if they lose the series 5-0 for example, I think the fans will want Virat Kohli to come out of retirement and play Test cricket again.

And I honestly, I think if he was asked by the captain, selectors, and supported by fans if they get beaten big time in England, I think he'll come. He still loves Test cricket. I think his words, I think those words, like you could hear his passion for Test cricket is real," Clarke said on the Beyond23 podcast.

Virat Kohli has unfinished business in England

Virat Kohli has unfinished business in England as he got robbed for the first time in his career in a whole series in England, where he had a forgettable tour in 2014. Kohli only managed to score 134 runs in five Test matches.

After four years, Kohli made a tremendous comeback and smashed over 700 runs against England. Kohli led his side to win the Test match at Lord’s and The Oval, but COVID-19 spoiled the moment for India and later rescheduled the fifth Test match, which India ultimately lost the game and ended the series 2-2.

Virat Kohli’s test form before retirement

Virat Kohli’s last five years in the red-ball format were under par compared to his test record, as he touched above 30 average once out of the last five years in his career.

Kohli was constantly failing in his last phase of Test cricket as he was dismissed by spinners in the home conditions and was dismissed on outside off stump deliveries in the away conditions.