In a surprising turn, Anas Haqqani, a prominent member of the Taliban and member of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has asked Kohli to not give up red-ball cricket, which is heartbreaking.

Kohli shocked the cricketing world when he retired from international Test cricket in May 2025, only days after Rohit Sharma died. However, Haqqani believes the King still has more to give and conveyed this sentiment in a heartfelt message.

Speaking to Shubhankar Mishra, Haqqani admitted he struggled to understand Kohli’s sudden decision. “Rohit’s retirement from Tests was justified. I don’t know the cause behind Kohli’s retirement. Very few people across the world are that unique. My wish is that he tries to play till he is 50,” he said.

Kohli’s Legacy and the Next Generation

Haqqani’s surprise was not about Rohit’s retirement but about losing a once-in-a-generation batter from the longest format. Kohli, 36, bowed out on May 12, 2025, just 770 runs short of the 10,000-run milestone in Tests, while Rohit had retired five days earlier, closing his own red-ball chapter.

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“Maybe he was frustrated by the media in India. He still had time. You can see Joe Root chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of Test runs,” Haqqani added. With both stalwarts stepping aside, the baton has now been passed to 25-year-old Shubman Gill, who made an immediate impact by leading India to a 2-2 draw against England. Meanwhile, Kohli and Rohit have shifted their focus to ODIs and are expected to return in October for a three-match series against Australia.

India is currently staking their claim to the Asia Cup 2025 tournament, having thrashed the UAE in their first match. If the schedule goes according to plan, fans could see a potential India vs Afghanistan game in the Super Four stage—a game that may have a new fan watching closely for the very first time.