Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has once again raised questions about Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket, especially after Kohli’s explosive 43-run innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.
Sehwag believes Kohli had more to offer in the red-ball format and retired too early. He said, “The way he maintains his fitness and intensity, he could’ve easily played Test cricket for another two years. But only Virat can tell what made him take that decision. It’s a personal choice—maybe mental fatigue or just his will.”
Kohli’s Quickfire 43 Not Enough as RCB Lose to SRH
Kohli’s impressive knock of 43 off 25 balls, featuring elegant strokes and two stylish boundaries, came during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s chase of 231 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Despite his aggressive start and Phil Salt’s 62, RCB lost wickets in a cluster and were eventually bowled out for 189, handing SRH a 42-run victory.
Kohli’s batting, however, showed signs of the trademark energy and composure that defined his 123-match Test career, where he scored 9,230 runs and led India through one of their most successful red-ball phases.
Ishan Kishan Steals the Show for Hyderabad
The night belonged to Ishan Kishan, who played a sensational unbeaten innings of 94 off 48 balls, smashing 7 fours and 5 sixes. His performance, supported by quick contributions from Abhishek Sharma (34) and Travis Head (17), propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to 231 for 6.
Kishan, alongside Heinrich Klaasen, anchored the middle overs and launched Hyderabad to a match-winning total. In response, Pat Cummins (3 for 28) and Eshan Malinga (2 for 37) struck at key moments, derailing RCB’s run chase.
While the defeat stung Bengaluru, the spotlight remained on Kohli’s form and Sehwag’s continued skepticism over the timing of his Test exit. With his bat still doing the talking, many wonder: did Virat Kohli really step away too soon?
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