WATCH: “Aggression turned a bit to anger,” Mark Taylor shares his perspective on Virat Kohli’s Test retirement

Kohli finished his Test career with 9230 runs and 30 centuries from 123 matches.

Former Australian skipper Mark Taylor offered his unique perspective on Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, saying that it is good for him personally but not the same for Indian cricket as he felt the star batter was struggling and angry in the last few years.

On Monday (May 12), the 36-year-old took to social media to confirm his decision to quit Test cricket. This move comes days ahead of the announcement of India’s Test squad for the upcoming England tour.

Kohli’s Test future had come under severe scrutiny after his flop show in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. He began the marquee series with a second innings hundred (100*) at Perth, but managed to amass only 90 runs in his other eight innings combined.

Virat Kohli’s constant struggles in whites in the last few years saw his average dropping to 46.85.

“Virat’s 36 and to be honest, these last three or four years haven’t been great. He’s made 300 I think, in the last five years now. So he hasn’t been in the best form, or that Virat Kohli form that he was in for about 10 years. No doubt, one of the best bats from this era of Test match cricket," Taylor said on Channel 9’s WWOS show.

“The one thing that came out from last summer for me was that aggression, which I’ve always loved about Virat. I’ve always been a big fan of Virat Kohli. The aggression turned a bit to anger, and when I saw his run-in with young Sam Konstas. I thought that was a worrying sign when aggression becomes anger; it’s time to give it away. So I think the timing is probably right for Virat, not necessarily right for Indian cricket, when they lose Rohit (Sharma) and Virat, if that’s what happens. Together, but every good thing has to come to an end, so he’s going to get angry. Get out now before it get," he added.

 

 

 

 

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Virat Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, played an instrumental role in India's red-ball resurgence over the past decade with his aggressive captaincy, prolific batting and unmatched intensity on the field.

Under his captaincy, India were competitive everywhere and registered their maiden Test series on Australian soil in 2018-19. Overall, Kohli led his country in 68 Test matches and suffered defeat in only 17 of them. With 40 wins and 11 draws, he boasts a remarkable win percentage of 58.82, making him the most successful Test captain in India's history.

Kohli finished his Test career with 9230 runs from 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with the highest score of 254.

Having retired from T20Is last year, the Indian talisman will now focus solely on the ODI format.