‘I’m just playing one form of the game’ – Virat Kohli addresses Test retirement U-turn rumours

Virat Kohli has addressed rumours suggesting that he’ll take a U-turn on his Test retirement and return to red-ball cricket after India was whitewashed at home for the second time in 12 months.

For the last few hours, it’s been reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reached out to Kohli. Kevin Pietersen backed the decision on social media, but the star batter has denied the possibility.

No Test retirement U-turn for Kohli

After bagging the ‘player of the match’ award for his 135-run knock in Ranchi, Harsha Bhogle asked Kohli whether he would think about reversing the decision he took in May. The former India captain rejected any such ideas, saying he’s a one-format player for India until he retires.

“That’s how it’s always going to be – I’m just playing one format of the game now,” Kohli said in the post-match interview.

Mental space important

Kohli hadn’t played any competitive cricket since touring Australia; that is why he arrived early to Ranchi. He held practice sessions both day and night to get acclimatised to the conditions. Safe to say, the tactic worked. Kohli also shared that his success has always been dependent on his mental space. If he’s feeling right in the head, all goes well.

“Today was really nice to kind of get into the game. The pitch was playing well in the initial part of it before it slowed down. I was just trying to hit the ball and not think of too much other stuff. Once you get a start and get into the situation, you know what to do. I have never been a big believer in a lot of preparation. All my cricket has been mental. I work hard on my fitness, and as long as I am mentally in a good space, I will be able to score the runs. If I’m arriving somewhere, I give my 120 per cent. I came a few days back, and I’m 37, so I also need to look after my recovery. I visualise myself being intent and sharp,” Kohli added.