ENG vs IND: Dilip Vengsarkar Says He’d Advise Virat Kohli to Retire After England Tour

Virat Kohli stunned the cricketing world when he unexpectedly announced his retirement from Test cricket midway through the Indian Premier League. The news broke on May 12, when the Delhi batsman took to social media to reveal that he was bidding farewell to his favourite format. The timing caught everyone off guard, especially since the announcement came just days after Rohit Sharma revealed his own retirement from the longest format. Kohli’s decision meant that India would embark on the highly anticipated England tour without one of their most experienced and dependable batters in challenging overseas conditions. The responsibility of leading the team in England fell to young Punjab batsman Shubman Gill, who, despite his relative inexperience, stepped up impressively both as captain and batsman. Under Gill’s leadership, India fought hard and managed to draw the five-match Test series 2-2 against Ben Stokes and his spirited England side. While the result was commendable, many experts believe that Kohli’s presence could have tilted the balance in India’s favour.

Among those voicing this opinion was former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, who openly stated that he would have advised Kohli to reconsider the timing of his retirement. Speaking to the *Times of India*, Vengsarkar said, “If I were the Indian chief selector, I would have convinced Virat to say goodbye to Test cricket after playing the England series. We needed his class and experience in this series.” His remarks echoed the sentiment of many fans and cricket pundits who felt that Kohli’s proven ability to perform in tough English conditions would have been a huge asset. In a tour where batting proved challenging due to seam movement and unpredictable weather, the absence of a world-class player like Kohli was keenly felt.

Kohli’s record in England has been a tale of resilience, redemption, and occasional struggles. His first Test tour in 2014 exposed a glaring weakness outside the off-stump, as England’s pacers exploited the conditions to dismiss him cheaply on multiple occasions. The series was a disappointment for the then-budding star, but it also marked a turning point in his career. Determined to conquer those demons, Kohli returned to England in 2018 with renewed focus and outstanding form. Leading the side as captain, he amassed 655 runs in that series, silencing critics with match-winning knocks, including his career-best 149 in the first Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. However, his form dipped again during the 2021–22 tour, which included the World Test Championship final, where he failed to make a significant impact.

Overall, Kohli’s Test career in England comprises 17 matches in which he has scored 1,096 runs at an average of 33.21. His tally includes five half-centuries and two centuries, with the Edgbaston innings standing out as one of the finest displays of batting by an Indian in England in recent times. Those numbers underline why Vengsarkar and others felt that Kohli still had more to offer in those conditions. His ability to absorb pressure, adapt to seaming wickets, and counterattack when needed is rare in modern cricket and could have been decisive in the 2025 series.

Meanwhile, as India’s Test future adjusts to life without Kohli and Rohit Sharma, questions are beginning to emerge about their ODI careers as well. Reports suggest that the upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia later this year could mark the final chapter in international cricket for both stalwarts. If those reports are accurate, Indian cricket will soon witness the end of an era dominated by the Kohli-Rohit duo—two modern greats who carried the team’s batting for over a decade. For now, fans are left to wonder what might have been had Kohli delayed his retirement and brought his unmatched passion and skill to one last battle on English soil.