Virat Kohli: 'Is it too late to bring him back from retirement?' Tharoor remembers Kohli in the fifth Test

England needs 35 runs to win on the last and fifth day of the five-Test series against India. The day's play could not be completed due to rain and poor light on the fourth day. England still has four wickets left. In such a situation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that he missed Virat Kohli during this series, but never as much as he did in this Test match. He questioned whether it was too late to bring him out of retirement.

Chasing 374 runs on the fourth day of the fifth Test, England's score was 106/3 at one point, but thanks to Joe Root and Harry Brook's centuries, England came back in the match and reduced India's chances. On the fifth day, England needs 35 runs to win and has four wickets. Even if injured Chris Woakes does not come to bat, England still has three wickets left. If India wins this match, the series will be tied at 2-2; otherwise, England will win the series 3-1. In case of defeat, many questions will be raised on Shubman Gill's captaincy and Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach.

Before the England series, Virat announced his retirement from Test cricket in May. In a memorable career of 14 years, Virat has always boosted the morale of the team at such times. Virat has been India's most successful captain in England so far, having won three matches here, the most by any Indian captain. Virat has also faced defeat in five Tests in England, while one Test was drawn. At one time, Team India was leading the series 2-1 in England in 2021 under his leadership, but the fifth Test was postponed due to COVID-19. The fifth Test was played the following year under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah, in which India lost and the series was tied 2-2. Earlier in 2018, the series that India lost 4-1 under Virat's captaincy also had some close matches (losing by 31 runs while chasing 194 runs in Birmingham and losing by 60 runs while chasing 245 runs in Southampton).

Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor, while talking on 'X', said, 'I missed Virat Kohli many times during this series, but never as much as this Test match. His patience and aggression, his inspiring presence in the field, and his brilliant batting could have perhaps given a different result. Is it too late to ask him to retire? Virat, the country needs you!'

In his Test career, 36-year-old Virat Kohli played 123 matches and scored 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85. This includes 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His best score was 254 not out. He is India's fourth-highest run-scorer in this format. He is followed by Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs). With 40 wins, 17 losses, and 11 draws, Virat was India's most successful Test captain, leading the way with notable victories in South Africa, England, and Australia.