“It is a decision he has made very deliberately” - Ravi Ashwin on rumours of Virat Kohli’s Test retirement u-turn

Former Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin has opened up on the rumours of the Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli’s Test return. However, Kohli has himself confirmed that he will play one format - ODI - for now.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin asserted that retirement decisions are always well thought out before making them public, adding that Kohli made his retirement decisions very deliberately. 

"The decisions we make are always well thought out. Retirement is never an instinctive decision. I am confident that if a player like Virat chooses to retire from Tests, it is a decision he has made very deliberately. Nobody acts on instinct alone--we've all crossed that road," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"Of course, as fans, we all want to see Virat Kohli play, and that desire is completely natural. Watching him bat yesterday, fans might feel, 'Virat is in his prime--why aren't we seeing him more?' But Test cricket is a different challenge, and he has made his choice there. Let's be clear: the decision he has made to step away from that format is deliberate and should be respected. Going back now would not be the right approach, especially since the team is in a transition phase. It's about moving forward. That said, the days we get to watch Virat and Rohit bat and enjoy their cricket--let's cherish those moments while we can,” he added.

For the unversed, Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 135-run knock off 120 balls with 11 fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 112.5 as India bagged a 17-run win in the first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Speaking about his Test numbers, Kohli has accumulated 9230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85 with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.

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