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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in action during first ODI vs South Africa in Ranchi. (PHOTO: AP)
With all the spotlight on them, two stalwarts of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, shone the brightest on Sunday during the first ODI against South Africa, leading the Men in Blue for a 17-run win over the Proteas at the JSCA Cricket Stadium in Ranchi. Speaking on Rohit and Kohli, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has expressed his thoughts on the rumours of them coming out of their retirement to play Test cricket.
Ever since India were handed a 0-2 drubbing at home in the Test series against South Africa last week, there have been speculations that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might ask Rohit and Kohli to come out of their Test retirements.
With rumours spreading quickly, Pieteresen said the rumours need to be taken seriously. The former England cricketer highlighted that the survival of Test cricket is a hot topic, and if Kohli and Sharma want to play again, they must play.
“I don’t always believe what I read in the media or on social media. But, if it’s half true that both Virat and Rohit are considering playing Test cricket again, then it needs to be taken very very seriously. The survival of Test cricket is a hot topic of conversation and if the biggest stars in the game are wanting to play it again, they must play,” former England cricketer Pietersen wrote on X.
I don’t always believe what I read in the media or on social media. But, if it’s half true that both Virat and Rohit are considering playing Test cricket again, then it needs to be taken very very seriously.
The survival of Test cricket is a hot topic of conversation and if the…
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) November 30, 2025
However, Kohli confirmed his intentions to play only one format which is ODI. After the game, when Kohli was picking up his player of the match award, Harsha Bhogle asked him, “The physical aspect is never worrisome. You were running twos like you were a young kid. You were stopping balls on the boundary at long on like you were a young kid. The actual playing of the game, you’re now only playing one form of the game. By the way, is that how it’s always going to be?”
To this, Kohli responded: “Yes, that’s how it’s always going to be. I’m just playing one form of the game.”
Both Rohit and Kohli announced their Test retirements within a week of each other. In May, Rohit, who was India’s Test and ODI captain, announced his decision. Kohli followed by stating he would also be active in only one format.
Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, while Rohit made 4,301 runs in 67 Tests.
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Apart from Test cricket, the Indian legends have also stepped away from T20Is. The duo retired from the shortest format after lifting the ICC T20 World Cup title in Barbados last year.
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