Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket last month. Following this announcement, former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke made a bold statement regarding Kohli’s retirement. He said that if India were to lose the upcoming Test series against England by a margin of 5-0, there’s a chance Kohli could come out of retirement.
India will be facing England in a Test series without two of their most experienced players — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both legends retired from the longest format of the game last month, leaving a relatively young Indian squad to be led by Shubman Gill.
Kohli’s retirement from Tests shocked fans and pundits alike, as few expected him to step away from the format he’s so passionate about. In a heartfelt social media post, he explained that it wasn’t an easy decision, but he felt it was the right time to step down.
Given England’s strong record at home, there have already been calls for Kohli to reconsider his retirement. Some reports even suggest that ICC Chairman Jay Shah may speak with him, given Kohli’s iconic status in Test cricket and his importance to the future of the format.
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast, Michael Clarke said that if India were to suffer a heavy defeat in England, fans and team management might push for Kohli’s return.
“I believe this: if India go to England and get flogged — if they lose the series 5-0, for example — I think the fans will want Virat Kohli to come out of retirement and play Test cricket again,” Clarke said, as quoted by PTI.
“And honestly, I think if he’s asked by the captain, the selectors, and supported by fans — if they get beaten badly in England — he’ll come back. He still loves Test cricket. You could hear the passion in his words — his love for Test cricket is genuine.”
Michael Clarke: India Can Still Win in England Without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Michael Clarke shared his views on the upcoming England-India series, expressing confidence that the Shubman Gill-led Indian team can succeed even without key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He highlighted that India has a strong squad capable of competing at the highest level.
Clarke said, “Virat sees cricket as the pinnacle and is still playing well. He has clearly made his decision to retire, and whatever his reasons, every player reaches that stage in their career.”
He added,
“If that’s the case, then so be it. But even if they don’t perform perfectly or lose, say, 5-0 in England—which I don’t believe will happen—I still think they can win there without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This Indian squad is a solid team.”
The Test series between England and India will start on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. This series will also begin the new ICC World Test Championship cycle for 2025-27.