Former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar has reckoned that the Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli retired prematurely from the longest format of the game. Notably, his comments came ahead of India’s upcoming ODI series against the West Indies.
Kohli bid adieu to Tests ahead of India’s tour of England in the ongoing World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. On the other hand, he retired from T20Is after the successful T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.
Speaking on ‘The Great Indian Cricket Show’ on DD Sports, Bangar asserted that Kohli should’ve played for a few more years in the red-ball format. However, he added that we need to respect the veteran batter’s decision.
“I agree. I definitely say that. You should have played more. However, he had made up his mind that he had to put a full stop to this format and spend more time on his personal life,” Bangar said.
“We have to respect his decision, and whatever he is playing from now onwards and the pleasure he is giving, one needs to enjoy that,” he added.
Further, Bangar stated that Kohli is India’s greatest Test captain going by his numbers, adding that he brought the change in the team’s approach, especially away from home.
“Yes, purely if you go by numbers as well, because in the end you see the number of wins and losses. Apart from that, the change we saw in the team’s approach. One is the results, but the other thing is that the perspective from which you are looked at changes,” he observed.
“Every team tried that India should have a positive image in their era, but on the back of fast bowling, he tried to change the perspective with which the Indian team is looked at. We would definitely say that it was Virat Kohli’s massive achievement,” Bangar concluded.
