Virat Kohli bid farewell to Test cricket earlier this year and is currently representing India in the ODI format only. However, the Best Emerging Player award winner in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League IPL in 2008, Shreevats Goswami, opined that Virat Kohli should have continued playing Test cricket and retired from ODIs.
Goswami's remarks come amid India's struggles during the home Test series against South Africa. The Men in Blue lost the first Test at Eden Gardens by 30 runs and are being outplayed in the ongoing second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. If they fail to win the second Test, which seems very likely, this will be their second Test series defeat at home in the last 13 months. They had been whitewashed 0-3 by New Zealand in October-November 2024.
Goswami noted that Kohli's energy and passion while playing for the Indian Test team rubbed off on his fellow players and helped them achieve success. The former wicketkeeper-batter said that the winning mentality and fire Kohli had in him is missing in the current crop of players.