Former Indian skipper Kapil Dev expressed his disappointment while reflecting on Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket. Dev reckons Kohli shouldn’t have taken the retirement decision in anger. Kohli called time on his career in May 2025 ahead of the WTC 2025-27 cycle.

The veteran 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.

“It’s not about 10,000 runs. What I thought was — for six months… he should not have done that in anger because you won’t get a chance to play for India again. Then you can only talk. When you’re playing, don’t react in anger,” Kapil told India Today. 

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain recalled feeling ‘bad’ that Kohli had called curtains on his career ‘before time’.

“It feels like—no, you still had time. If the selectors didn’t pick you, no problem. If the captain didn’t pick you, no problem. Work hard, go and score more runs—like Mohinder Amarnath. Or Anshuman Gaekwad. It didn’t matter—they went and scored runs in domestic cricket. Just like you’re doing in the IPL or other trophies—if you play, he will come back. Because he still has the ability for Test cricket. It’s not like he can’t play—if you look now, he can still play. But the decision made me feel bad because he took it before his time.

Kohli will be seen in action in three-match ODI series against England, subject to fitness clearance.