Former India batsman Robin Uthappa has sparked debate over Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, pushing the most successful Indian red-ball captain to reconsider his decision after witnessing his intensity and focus during recent training sessions.
Uthappa took to social media to share a photo of Virat practicing in the nets during India’s practice session, writing, “The hunger is still clearly visible.” He also indicated that now would be a good moment for Virat Kohli to come out of test retirement.

“The eyes tell u a story…Surely it’s time to rescind his test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket,” wrote Uthappa.
Check Uthappa’s social media post here:
Them eyes tell u a story…Surely it’s time to rescind his test retirement. Would love to see him back in Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/fxWcI8tF1X
— Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) January 8, 2026 
Earlier, Uthappa stated that Virat and Rohit Sharma’s retired from test cricket was not natural. He was speaking through his YouTube channel.
“I don’t know if it was a forced surrender, but it definitely didn’t seem like a natural exit. What the truth is, they themselves will have to share in their own time. But I don’t think it was natural,” he said via a video on his YouTube channel.

One of the modern era’s best-ever red-ball players, Virat Kohli, startled everyone by taking an untimely call to step away from the format right before the England series in 2025. The former India captain finished his career with 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 and 30 hundreds. The Delhi lad has been in great form since then in the ODIs and he does not appear to be slowing down.
