Former South African gun fast bowler Allan Donald believes Virat Kohli called time on his Test career early, just like AB de Villiers. Kohli decided to retire from the red-ball version in May 2025 and now plays only the ODI format for India.
Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. In the last 69 Test innings since 2020, Kohli has managed only 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, including just three centuries.
Before 2020, Kohli accumulated 7202 runs in 141 Test innings at an average of 54.97, including 27 centuries.
The right-hander scored 190 runs in five Test matches on the Australian tour and was continuously troubled by the outside off-stump line, getting dismissed while trying to play through the covers.
Allan Donald said via ANI, “If there is one batter who is going to get close to Sachin Tendulkar, it would be Virat Kohli. I don’t think I have ever seen a hunger in a player like Virat. I’ve got massive respect for him. He is just a machine. I actually miss him. I miss him in the Test match arena. I still think he’s almost like an AB (AB de Villiers). You think he’s retired too early. But, no doubt we will see him in the white-ball arena and in the 2027 World Cup as well.”
On the other hand, Donald rated India’s T20 wickets as the best on the planet.
“I think India has got the best T20 wickets on the planet. I don’t care. It’s just so hard for any bowler. I’ve seen it in the IPL… who scored 124 in a powerplay? I mean, that’s just ridiculous. And if you can win the inches from a bowling point of view and plot your way very carefully and smartly, then, I think it will come down to that again,” said Donald (via the aforementioned source).
