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Cricket fans worldwide were left reeling last month when Virat Kohli, India’s batting maestro, announced his retirement from Test cricket. The decision, which came four months after a disappointing series in Australia, marked the end of an era for the longest format. But as Kohli’s IPL team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), storms into the IPL 2025 final, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has issued a passionate plea: reconsider the Test retirement and keep the Kohli magic alive.
Kohli’s retirement from Tests wasn’t a snap decision. After a tough tour Down Under, where India faltered, the 36-year-old took four months to reflect before hanging up his Test whites. With 8,074 runs, 29 centuries, and a legacy as one of India’s greatest Test captains, his exit leaves a void that’s hard to fill. Fans and pundits alike are still grappling with the loss of a player who redefined passion in the red-ball game.
Arun Dhumal, former BCCI treasurer and current IPL chairman, isn’t ready to let Kohli go that easily. Speaking to PTI, Dhumal compared Kohli to tennis legends Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, calling him “the greatest ambassador for the sport of cricket.” He praised Kohli’s unmatched commitment across 18 IPL seasons, noting, “He’s probably fitter now than he was in the first season. He still comes back with the same energy and aggression.”
Dhumal’s plea isn’t just about the IPL, where Kohli continues to dazzle. It’s about Test cricket too. “I would want him to reconsider his decision of retirement from Test cricket,” he said. Even if RCB clinches their maiden IPL title in 2025, Dhumal insists, “Neither do I think that, nor do I hope that [he’ll retire]. The whole country would want Virat to continue.”
As Kohli ponders his Test future, his IPL present is red-hot. RCB secured their spot in the IPL 2025 final with a commanding 8-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 in Mullanpur. This marks their fourth final appearance (after 2009, 2011, and 2016), but the trophy has remained elusive. With Kohli in scintillating form and the team peaking at the right time, could 2025 finally be RCB’s year?
Dhumal’s vision for Kohli goes beyond silverware. “Virat is to cricket what Djokovic or Federer is to tennis,” he reiterated. “His dedication in the first season and the next 17 is unmatched.” Whether it’s the IPL or Tests, Dhumal sees Kohli as a force who can keep inspiring generations.
As RCB gears up for the IPL 2025 final, the cricketing world holds its breath—not just for the trophy, but for Kohli’s next move. Will he heed Dhumal’s call and return to Test cricket? For now, the stage is set for a blockbuster finale, and Kohli remains the man in the spotlight.
