Ambati Rayudu Advocates for Virat Kohli's Return to Test Cricket
Kohli's Impact on Test Cricket and Recent Performances
Virat Kohli, who stepped away from Test cricket prior to last year's England tour after struggling with his batting, was a pivotal figure in the Test squad. His departure surprised many in the cricket community, especially given his significant contributions to the format. The pressure he faced, particularly after a disappointing tour in Australia, made his retirement seem inevitable. Despite this, Kohli has continued to excel in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and appears to have regained his form. He recently made a notable return to T20 cricket during the IPL, scoring an impressive 69 not out, leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026 season opener at Chinnaswamy Stadium.
In light of Kohli's resurgence, former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has encouraged him to contemplate a return to Test cricket, suggesting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should consider reinstating him as captain. Rayudu expressed confidence in Kohli's abilities, stating, “I believe his best performances in the IPL are still ahead of him. What we've witnessed so far is merely a preview. His fitness has never been a concern, and I don't foresee any issues with his physical condition or performance on the field. The only factor that might hinder him is his mental state, but I believe he still has five to six years of quality cricket left in him.”
'Fitness Won't Be A Concern For Virat Kohli': Rayudu
Rayudu highlighted Kohli's successful tenure as captain, during which India achieved remarkable victories, including a Test series win in Australia and reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2021. He emphasized that appointing Kohli as captain again could serve as a motivating factor for him to strive for a WTC title for India, asserting that fitness should not be an issue. “If you grant him the captaincy, it would be a tremendous motivation for him. Winning the WTC would be a significant challenge, and given his fitness, I don't see any concerns there,” Rayudu concluded.