‘His retirement didn’t really…’: Former South Africa cricketer says Virat Kohli’s retirement was expected, highlights ‘Anxiety’ Factor

Virat Kohli shocked the cricketing fraternity by announcing his retirement from Test cricket, leaving fans and experts surprised.

India’s star batter Virat Kohli shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket. Regarded as one of the finest batters of the modern era, Kohli made this unexpected decision just before the start of the five-match Test series against England.

Kohli struggled for form during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which drew heavy criticism from fans and cricket pundits alike. However, former South Africa batter Daryll Cullinan said he wasn’t surprised by Kohli’s decision, noting that the Indian batter had been going through a tough phase in red-ball cricket.

“His retirement didn’t really come as a surprise to me. We’ve seen in recent times he’s battled a bit at Test cricket. And what happens, I believe, as a batsman too, or sportsman or cricketer, is that when you are constantly working on your game and physically staying in shape and mentally dealing with anxiety at Test cricket, you get to a point where you don’t want to put in that work to get yourself out of a bad rut or find some form again.” Cullinan told Hindustan Times

“You don’t feel you want to do it anymore. I think that’s as much whether it’s injury or a really bad run which ends your career,” Cullinan said

Kohli had an impressive career as a Test batter but the later half of his career saw a steep fall with his deliveries outside the off stump becoming a major talking point.

“I think he probably got to that stage. He has a big life now outside of cricket, and he’s playing white ball cricket and probably felt, well, you know, it’s time to move on, family and all these things kind of play on your mind. So the thing too is that you don’t want to leave when it’s too late,” Cullinan added

“And the series in England would have been hard work for him. And he’s had his struggles there in the past. And particularly with pace or movement or seeing, he would have had to have really put in the time and the hours to have a good series and to play well. So I think weighing up all the considerations, I think that’s why he decided now’s the time,” he concluded.

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