Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik spoke about the global surprise after the former Indian captain Virat Kohli recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. In the meantime, Kohli's former national and IPL teammate, who is also the present RCB batting coach, also respects the former Indian skipper's retirement decision.

While India are ready to tour England for a crucial five-match Test series, which is also India's first assignment in the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, the captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli both recently announced their retirements from Test cricket. Kohli, who is now only active in the ODI format in international cricket, was one of the greatest Test cricketers in the modern generation.

See Also: After Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, another cricket legend bids farewell to Test cricket

Virat Kohli was a legend in Test cricket

Kohli strongly promoted Test cricket in his career. The right-handed batter scored 9230 runs in 123 Tests with an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He also recorded seven Test double-centuries, a record by a Test captain. As Kohli was recently struggling with the bat in red-ball format, his Test cricket future became doubtful, and before the completion of the IPL 2025, the former Indian skipper announced his retirement from the longest cricket format.

Virat is at his happiest best now: Dinesh Karthik

Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik played 72 international matches together, including two Tests. Present RCB batting coach Karthik, who played 180 international matches, including 26 Tests, spoke about the importance of self-realization and self-decision while enjoying the sport. 

Karthik said, "It came as a shock to the outside world, so we just observing what Virat is up to. He is at his happiest best now, he is enjoying the sport, he is really wanting to spend his time with his family. It’s a personal decision, we respect it and as everyone else, oh this is happening, but the fact is it’s great to see him happy and ready whenever we want him to play. The key is to keep him in good spirits."

In the ongoing IPL 2025, while RCB are battling for the top two places in the final points table, Virat Kohli is the leading run-scorer for his team with 548 runs in 12 innings with an average of 60.88 and a strike rate of 145.35, including seven half-centuries.