Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has sparked a fresh debate in cricket circles, claiming that Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from the T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup was premature.
Speaking during commentary for Star Sports, Raina argued that Kohli, at the peak of his form and fitness, could have continued dominating the format until the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Raina’s comments came during the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), where Virat Kohli smashed a match-defining 70 runs off 42 balls, propelling RCB to an 11-run victory.
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"I still think that Virat Kohli retired early from T20I cricket. He could have played until 2026, based on the rhythm with which he is playing right now, and the rhythm during the 2025 Champions Trophy as well. The way he has maintained his fitness, he looks like he is at his peak still," Raina said as quoted on Star Sports.
Kohli, who announced his T20I retirement after a match-winning 76 runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, has been in scintillating form in the IPL 2025. His latest knock against RR saw him climb to second position in the Orange Cap race with 392 runs in nine innings, reinforcing his status as one of the IPL’s elite batters.
Will Virat Kohli Unretire Himself from T20Is?
With 4,188 runs in 125 T20Is, including a century and 38 fifties, Kohli holds numerous records, including the most runs in T20 World Cup history (1,292). He retired from the format on a high with the trophy and was also the Player of the Match in the final versus South Africa.
While Kohli has hinted at a potential one-off T20I return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, his focus at the moment remains on the ODI World Cup 2027 and helping RCB win their first IPL title.
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The Bengaluru-based franchise is on the right path. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB is currently in the third spot in the IPL 2025 points table with six wins and three losses. They will next face Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 27.
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