Kapil Dev believes Virat Kohli should have played Test cricket for a longer period of time. The World Cup-winning captain believes Kohli might have extended his red-ball career after quitting in May 2025, just 770 runs shy of the format’s 10,000-run mark.
After leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma, Kohli declared his retirement from T20 international cricket. Kohli has only played ODIs for the national side since retiring from Test cricket in 2025, but his consistency has been outstanding.
“The way he plays, he looks good. At this age, his fitness is the most crucial factor. And if he can maintain himself healthy for another two or three years, I believe he will break all records. And second, I feel sad for him. He retired from a test match. NDTV Sports quoted Kapil Dev as adding, “I don’t know why he did that.
“He knows best. But, as a spectator and former cricketer, I believe he should have played more Test cricket because he possesses the potential. Absolutely. Yes, he shouldn’t. He have the ability since he enjoys and can appraise his game. “I’m not sure if he’s feeling bad today or not,” he added.
According to Kapil Dev, if Kohli stays in condition over the next five years, he has the potential to break every record.
The former India all-rounder also questioned Kohli’s decision to leave early from the longest format. After a few years, Kapil Dev believes the right-handed hitter may come to regret his decision.
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Kohli recently hit 139 not out off 88 balls in one of his best one-day international performances against the West Indies at Thiruvananthapuram’s Greenfield International Stadium. This was the first of three one-day internationals. The third ODI will be played on Wednesday, September 29, at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
