Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement yesterday, and that came as a surprise for Team India fans, especially ahead of a huge England tour after the conclusion of the IPL 2025. Many former and current cricketers shared their heartwarming messages on social media, but former India cricketer and national selector Sarandeep Singh came up with a bold statement regarding Kohli’s retirement.
Sarandeep Singh is the coach of the Delhi team in the Ranji Trophy, where Kohli played his last red-ball match. While talking to PTI, Singh made some stunning revelations and admitted to being surprised at Kohli’s decision, especially after the interaction both of them had during that Ranji clash.
“There was no hint (of retirement). Did not even hear from anywhere. Some days ago, I was talking to him but I did not get any hint that he was thinking about this. The kind of IPL he is having, he is in incredible form,” Singh said.
“He got one century in Australia, but he was not satisfied.” – Sarandeep Singh on Virat Kohli
“I asked him if will he would play County cricket before the Test matches. He said he wanted to play two India ‘A’ matches before the Test series (against England). It was already settled. Suddenly, we hear he will no longer play red-ball cricket. There is no fitness issue. No form issue. He got one century in Australia, but he was not satisfied. During the Ranji Trophy, he was saying that he wants to score three-four centuries in England because is the most senior player in the team.”
When he was asked whether he could see any sign of retirement, Sarandeep Singh said: “Not at all, there was no sign of him retiring from any form of cricket because he is coming to play red-ball cricket, so he had no thinking like that. Even at that time, he was talking about the England series with the Test matches that are coming. So, he was going to play there,” Sarandeep Singh said.
“And this time, he will be very much prepared, he said. He is going to score maximum hundreds, which he did the last time in 2018 when he went to England. He scored a lot of runs over there. So, he will be well prepared for the England tour too. So, there is nothing like that when it came to Ranji Trophy matches. In the coming time, he was looking forward to it. So, I don’t know. Still, we thought that we would see him on the England tour. He is one of the most senior players. Especially, the England tour is very tough. So, without him, I don’t know how the Indian team will manage now,” Singh concluded.
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