'I am disappointed': Javed Akhtar on Virat Kohli's Test retirement

Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has called Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket "premature" and has joined the bandwagon to show his disappointment.

Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, drawing the curtain on a stellar red-ball career. He represented India in 123 Tests, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. Kohli led India to 40 wins in 68 Tests -- the most by any Indian skipper to date.

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"Obviously Virat knows better but as an admirer of This great player I am disappointed by his rather premature retirement from Test cricket," Javed Akhtar wrote on X.

"I think there is still a lot of cricket in him. I sincerely request him to reconsider his decision."

Obviously Virat knows better but as an admirer of This great player I am disappointed by his rather premature retirement from Test cricket cricket . I think there is still a lot of cricket in him . I sincerely request him to reconsider his decision.

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) May 14, 2025

England are scheduled to host India for a five-match Test series starting June 20, which is also the beginning of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle.



"As I step away from this format, it's not easy - but it feels right. I've given it everything I had, and it's given me back so much more than I could've hoped for," Kohli had announced on his Instagram page.

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"I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude - for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way," he added.

His retirement continues the exodus of Indian bigwigs from the Test arena. Ravichandran Ashwin (in December) and Rohit Sharma (last week) are the others to have called it quits in the format.